A Christmas Wish from CI President Jim Cook

It’s that special time of year…The holidays. Christmas lights, carols and personal thoughts of what it all means to each of us.

At this time of year I’m particularly happy to be part of something that helps so many in so many meaningful ways.

I also particularly enjoy talking to our generous sponsors this time of year. They are all inspiring in their own unique ways.

At the end of this tumultuous year in the world financial markets and the U.S. economy, I’m reminded how relative tough times are…by thinking of those less fortunate that we serve around the world.

This was really emphasized for me recently when I was speaking with my son who was wrapping up the semester at his university. He had been under the weather while trying to write papers and study for exams…he said he was starting to feel sorry for himself when he happened to visit the Children International website and saw some of the children there and read a couple of stories. He remembered the experiences he had when he accompanied me to Honduras and Guatemala in his early teens.

After that, he revised his computer wallpaper to have a sponsored child’s picture on it as a reminder of just how bad he didn’t have it…and to remind him that there are many much more challenged, with far greater difficulties, EVERY day!

That’s a big part of what this season is about, I think.

Merry Christmas!

Jim

Posted on behalf of Jim Cook, president of Children International. Photo by Marelvis Campo.

Chat with Jim Cook

July 15 is just around the corner! We still have a few seats remaining in our online live chat with Jim Cook, president of Children International.

If you'd like a chance to visit with Jim online, just drop us a line at blog@children.org. We'll let you know if there are still seats available.

The chat will be held July 15 at 11:00 a.m. CST. So don't delay! Email us now for your reservation.

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Writer

When Kevin Fleming joined Children International as a writer almost a year ago, he didn’t know he’d be working as a White House correspondent.

And he doesn’t. But he does get to cover the president from time to time. President Jim Cook, that is!

Kevin has worked with Jim to bring you a special slideshow. Jim – who’s amazed that he’s already been with Children International for 20 years! – looks back over 2007 and reflects on some of the major events that touched our lives and the lives of the children and families we work to help.

So what’s it like to work with the president?

“Jim is supremely easy to work with. To communicate 365 days of events and accomplishments in 3 or 4 minutes is not an exercise for the timid -- and Jim handled it brilliantly,” says Kevin.

And speaking of major events, Kevin is due to become a dad at the end of January! So feel free to drop him a comment in honor of this special occasion. And enjoy the slideshow, which posts on our website, www.children.org, on Thursday afternoon (December 20).