The Way to Lose Wait

No, I didn’t misspell that.

Certainly, I’d be none the worse for the experience if I were to lose a few pounds...but right now, I’d like to lose some wait.

We all know how interminable some waits seem. Doctors’ offices. Automotive service centers. The stretch between lunch and supper. Waiting for the next passing zone so you can get around the driver you’ve been following for the last 30 miles and who is convinced that any speed over 40 (on the highway) is just a foolish and unnecessary risk.

But when you are a poor child waiting for someone to become your sponsor, the wait seems like an eternity – or even longer, if that’s possible.

Seeing the other children in the community proudly sporting their new school supplies...going to bed at night knowing that if tomorrow you get sick there is a doctor who’ll see you right away...having a chance to get a decent education…knowing there’s a place where you belong and that somebody across the miles really cares about you…these things are worth the wait.

And hundreds of children are waiting. Some have waited for as long as two years. Why not be the one who brings that wait to an end?

Not sure you can handle it? Maybe your Uncle Sam will help you out this year! Just think of what a difference a sponsorship paid for with a tax incentive rebate would make in the life of a child who’s been waiting for help for a long, long time.

On Tuesday, April 15, you’ll be able to visit our home page, www.children.org, and read a special feature about children who are waiting for sponsors. You’ll also be able to watch a slideshow that will let you meet some of these children.

Give it a try...Sponsorship: The Ultimate Wait Loss Program.

Start Spreading the Word

Posted on behalf of Deron Denton

Last year was, in many ways, the Year of Giving Big. Warren Buffet pledged $37 billion dollars to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Clinton Global Initiative hosted a conference that read like a “who’s-who” of philanthropy: non-profit, corporate and political leaders from across the globe pooled their expertise and wealth to tackle issues of poverty, climate change, global health and education.

In 2006, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a Bangladeshi man who founded a bank that helps poor people by providing them affordable loans to start their own small businesses. U2 front man Bono seemed ubiquitous: he was at the White House, in Africa, and everywhere in between. Scores of other celebrities were not only getting involved with humanitarian causes – they were talking about it. (The fact that they talked about it bugged me. But more on that in a minute.)

The same trend appears to be continuing this year…the actions of the rich and famous are being replicated by the rest of us. It is estimated that two-thirds of Americans gave to charity last year.

The friends and family who began sponsoring children since I started working for Children International 3 years ago seem to confirm this trend. Most of them, I think, already donated time or money to humanitarian causes prior to signing up for sponsorship. But when they learned about what Children International does, they wanted to be a part of it.

I know that two of those friends have provided special donations to their children’s families. One of them told me, more than once, that sponsorship has made him more aware of just how fortunate he is. The fact that we are not one of the 3 billion people on the planet struggling to survive on less than two dollars a day, he says, makes us wealthy. At least, we are wealthy beyond the dreams of half the people with whom we share this planet.

I don’t know if you can relate to this or not, but I have a tendency to not talk about the charitable endeavors I am involved with. Somehow, I think, this cheapens it. I’m not sure where that comes from, but I’ve had that notion for a long time now. So when I see celebrities talking about their involvement with certain humanitarian causes, it tends to turn me off.

But I have come to realize just how eager people are to help the less fortunate. And if we are passionate about something, that passion is contagious. Letting friends, family and co-workers know about the philanthropy that energizes us is a way to get more people involved. The more people we get involved…well, I think you get the point.

Very few of us are famous. But that doesn’t matter in terms of getting other people to hop onboard the train of charitable giving. We can still spread the word. Even fewer of us are billionaires. Nonetheless, most of us can afford to support a humanitarian cause…even if it’s just a small, once-a-year gift.

And talking about it, in terms of how giving helps the recipients – and how giving is its own reward – is a great way to further the cause.

Making Every Penny Count

The value of financial integrity and a culture of transparency can’t be overstated in today’s business climate. We thought you would enjoy learning more about Children International’s financial practices and meeting David Houchen, who has been with CI for 10 years and serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.


Kelly:
What was your background before joining CI?

David:
As an auditor for a large CPA firm in KC I worked on and managed many audits of organizations like CI.

Kelly:
What interested you in the accounting/finance field, particularly in the non-profit sector?

David:
I have always enjoyed working with numbers and finances. While working in public accounting, I had the opportunity to work with many organizations, for profit and not-for-profit. When I interviewed at CI and learned more about their extensive financial policies and practices, I was impressed by their thoroughness and how well these were understood throughout the organization.

Kelly:
What do your duties here at CI involve?

David:
I oversee the Accounting and Information Technology areas -- plus the overall finances of CI. We have a really good staff, both at headquarters and at the field locations, that make sure all contributions are spent wisely.


Kelly: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

David:
The most rewarding thing is knowing that at the end of the day, all of our efforts go to provide assistance to needy children and their families. There is no better cause to work for than helping children.

Kelly:
Have you had any memorable experiences in the field or with sponsored children?

David:
I am fortunate to get to travel regularly to program locations to check on financial controls first-hand and to interact with children we assist and their families. I remember visiting Zambia when CI began working there. One of the first things we did was to build a community center in the middle of an urban slum where many of our sponsored children live. On the day before the grand opening of the center, there was much work still to be done. When I saw the volunteer mothers digging in and helping with many tasks, including scrubbing floors, I knew that not only would the grand opening be a success, but more importantly, the program would be a success too.

Kelly:
In a nutshell, what safeguards does CI have in place to ensure sponsors’ donations are used appropriately?

David:
I'm proud to say we have a well-developed system of financial controls at headquarters and at field locations. In KC, we employ 3 CPAs in the Accounting department. Each year we undergo a thorough budgeting process that is approved by our Board of Directors. We monitor variances every month and report on them to the Board. Contributions are received via a bank lockbox. We undergo an external audit annually, and we comply with the standards of the major charity oversight agencies. Another important aspect is that we have a worldwide culture of accountability that influences all of our decision-making at CI.

Kelly:
From an ethical standpoint, what is CI’s obligation to its sponsored population and to its sponsors?

David:
Our obligation is to do the best job we can with every contribution we receive. While a few hundred sponsors annually choose to visit their sponsored child, most sponsors are not able to do so. They put their trust in us to use their contributions in a way that will benefit their sponsored child as they intended. CI hires qualified employees and puts good accounting systems in place to ensure those contributions are indeed used as intended by the sponsors. The sponsored children and their families put the same level of trust in us.

Kelly:
Any particular message you’d like to share with our readers?

David:
Don't get discouraged when you read about millions of children and families who need help all over the world. As much as we would like to do so, we can't improve the lives of all of them. However, we can make a difference in the lives of those we are able to work with, and each sponsor who signs on with CI means there is one more child we can help. At last count, we are helping over 325,000 needy children around the world. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve them, and with the assistance of our dedicated sponsors, we help a few more every day.