Tag Archives: Ask Sponsor Services

Sep 23 2009

How does sponsorship affect my sponsored friend’s siblings?

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Ask Sponsor ServicesQ. My sponsored child has siblings. Are they upset or hurt if they are not sponsored?

A. It’s possible that one or more of your friend’s siblings are sponsored. Projects differ in their policies on sponsorship of multiple children in a family. Some projects prefer to limit sponsorship of siblings in order to help as many families as possible.

Though sponsorship is between one sponsor and one child or aging person, the benefits of CFCA sponsorship are intended to assist the entire family, not just the individual who is sponsored.

Some benefits, such as food supplies and home repairs, can be easily enjoyed by all family members. Benefits intended for the sponsored member alone, such as tuition assistance and clothing, still free up money in the family budget to be used for other family needs.

Nevertheless, if your sponsored friend is the only child sponsored, be assured that your sponsorship is received with joy and appreciated by the entire family as it lessens the financial pressure on the family, giving them hope and providing help.

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Aug 21 2009

Can I provide additional educational assistance to my sponsored child?

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Ask Sponsor ServicesQ. I understand that the cost of education sometimes exceeds what my monthly sponsorship can provide. What options do I have to provide additional assistance for my sponsored child as he or she gets older?

A. As more sponsored children pursue higher education and costs for education continue to rise, our projects find it increasingly difficult to stretch sponsorship dollars to cover higher education costs.

For sponsors who have the means and desire to provide additional assistance, we can inquire at the project whether your child requires additional assistance beyond what sponsorship provides.

It helps us to know if you are interested in providing a modest incremental amount or if you want to help fund higher education or a degree. If you are interested in providing additional educational assistance, please call our Sponsor Services team at (800) 875-6564 or (913) 384-6500 or email mail@cfcausa.org.

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Jul 15 2009

Do all projects have livelihood programs?

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Ask Sponsor ServicesQ. Do all projects have livelihood programs? How do the programs work?

A. CFCA’s livelihood initiatives have steadily grown to the point that approximately half of projects now have livelihood programs. The programs are made available to families with a desire and ability to participate.

CFCA’s primary emphasis is sponsorship in which one sponsor partners with one child or aging person and gives that person encouragement, love and financial support in the form of monthly sponsorship benefits.

Because the family is the primary caregiver, livelihood programs are designed to help families generate sustainable income for themselves. They may enhance their ability to gain employment, create a new source of income through starting a business or supplement existing income.

Programs may include skills training, business development training, access to loans, savings to create a loan fund, income-generating activities and individual empowerment to help members develop livelihoods based on skills.

Capital to launch businesses may be provided through CFCA projects, through savings and loan cooperatives created by sponsored members or through sponsor donations.

Donate to CFCA’s livelihood program fund.

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May 11 2009

At what age does CFCA classify sponsored friends as aging?

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Ask Sponsor ServicesQ. At what age does CFCA classify sponsored friends as aging?

A. There is no specific age one must be to qualify for sponsorship as an aging person. Our project staffs make this determination within the context of the personís circumstances.

While about 85 percent of sponsored aging persons are 65 or older, anyone who is an adult can be designated as aging. However, aging persons who are younger than 50 years old typically have a special situation that the CFCA project is addressing through sponsorship. For example, adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s who have special needs are classified as aging because they are no longer children but have a tremendous need for sponsorship as a result of physical or mental limitations.

Living conditions and life spans are different in each area of the world. CFCA feels it is best for those most familiar with the individual situations of the adults to determine their eligibility for the sponsorship program.

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Apr 6 2009

Writing topics

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Ask Sponsor ServicesQ. I donít know what to write to my friend. Could you offer any suggestions?

A. We are happy that you will be writing to your friend. Children, youth and aging friends eagerly anticipate receiving letters and photos from their sponsors. For both you and your friend, writing letters and sharing photos is the best way to build a strong relationship. But we know that itís sometimes difficult to get that first letter started.

Here are some topic suggestions:
Your story ñ age, children, family
Holiday traditions special to your family
Your favorite color, food, memory, sports/games
Interests, profession or hobbies
Weather where you live
The landscape in your geographic area
Cultural activities ñ art, music, dance, theater
Why you chose your sponsored friend
Ask questions about your friendís life and dreams
Offer words of encouragement and support

If you donít have time to write a letter, postcards and pre-printed greeting cards are an easy and quick way to stay in touch with your friend.

Remember: Itís a good rule of thumb to avoid talking about material possessions, money and other topics that could serve to highlight the differences between your circumstances. Please keep these same considerations in mind when sending photographs.

For the privacy and protection of sponsors and sponsored friends, please do not share or ask your friend for personal contact information, including e-mail or home addresses and phone numbers.

Please visit the CFCA writing page for more writing tips, including up-to-date information about mailing costs and how to request more pre-printed labels.

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Feb 10 2009

What is the best method to make my contribution?

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Q. What is the best method for me to make my sponsorship contribution?

A. The most convenient, efficient and cost effective way to make a contribution is through automatic bank withdrawal. With this payment option, you are authorizing CFCA to withdraw your monthly sponsorship payment directly from your checking account.

Contributions for sponsorship made through automatic bank withdrawal significantly reduce CFCAís processing costs, which free up more of your dollars for our work in support of sponsored children and aging.

Bank fees, printing and postage costs continue to increase and currently average 78 cents for each payment made by check. Our average cost for a credit card transaction is 85 cents. In contrast, the cost for an automatic bank withdrawal is less than 5 cents.*

CFCA’s automatic bank withdrawal is both safe and secure. Your payment may be scheduled for the 5th or 20th of the month and can be canceled at any time with a simple phone call or letter to CFCA.

Sign up online through our secure website.

Thank you for your continued support of your friend through CFCA.

*These amounts are current as of Dec. 31, 2008 and are subject to periodic change.

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