Bless the Children, Inc.

Every day over 26,000 children die of preventable causes worldwide.  Through health, shelter, nutritional and educational programs we save lives and help children escape the chains of poverty.  You can save a child's life.

How do you help people in my community?

Bless the Children’s programs serve the poorest children of the developing world.  Our work helps people of all communities throughout the United States by serving as a vehicle to address the human rights injustices children throughout the world face everyday. 

We are all made acutely aware of the poverty-stricken, often abusive, lives children face daily throughout the world through media channels.  It is easy for anyone to feel as though there is nothing that can be done to change the wrongs we see.  Through our programs all are able to reach out and begin to correct these wrongs in the true spirit of service.  In partnership with Bless the Children thousands come to realize that something can be done about it and through helping children begin to lead more fulfilled, purposeful lives.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948, following the atrocities of severe human rights violations committed during World War II.  In The Declaration, rights such as the right to education, the right to food and shelter for all, the right to life and worker’s rights are all set forth to be protected and championed to ensure a just, free world.

Bless the Children works with people of all faiths, all races and all creeds to ensure children are allowed their basic human rights so they are free to grow into the responsible leaders of tomorrow so very needed in our world today.

Why do you need my support?

The staff and volunteers of Bless the Children are totally committed to helping children around the world have a better life.  Your support is needed due to the sheer number of those in need.  In order to make lasting change it takes a lot of people working together to improve the sorrowful conditions of children around the world. 

More than half the children in the developing world are severely deprived of one or more of the necessities essential to childhood:

• 640 million children do not have adequate shelter
• 500 million children have no access to sanitation
• 400 million children do not have access to safe water
• 300 million children lack access to information
• 270 million children have no access to health care services
• 140 million children have never been to school
• 90 million children are severely food deprived

One child dies every five seconds from hunger-related causes. 

In the world today, there are over 143 million abandoned or orphaned children.  And that number is increasing at a staggering pace. 

It is estimated that each day 35,000 children are orphaned by the current HIV/AIDS crisis, creating an epidemic of homeless and abandoned children.

There are an estimated 150 million street children in the world.  Some sources estimate that this number will increase to 800 million by the year 2020.  These children face horrific conditions and are often regarded as animals by their communities.  They can be as young as 3 years old.  Street children are commonly addicted to drugs to escape their daily lives and problems, sexually abused, involved with prostitution and generally leading a life of severe poverty.

872 million people, or 1 in 4 adults in the developing world, cannot read or write.

More than 800 million people in the world go hungry.

Nearly half the world, 3 billion people, lives on less than $2 a day.

The solution to each of these horrifying statistics is a simple one.  People working together, coordinating resources through partnerships and continuing through any obstacle with the knowledge one is making a difference.  Everyday we see the difference we are making in the lives of the children we serve and we ask that you join us in our mission to create a better world through the love and care of children.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Bless the Children’s focus is delivering the most service possible to children in need by the most cost-effective means.  We utilize a network of partner relationships whereby each organization brings its own effective, proven expertise to any project or program.   By culling resources all partners are able to be financially prudent in fulfilling their missions. 

Bless the Children’s accountability is also demonstrated through low administrative overhead and thoroughly effective, well-administered programs for impoverished children and their communities.  Donations go farther because Bless the Children works with the communities it serves.  Our programs involve the community in many ways, from unloading shipments of aid and delivery to management and running of feeding programs to educational construction projects.  Through energetic team efforts little is spent with much return making it possible to deliver great service with low budgets.

Additionally, Bless the Children is:

1.        CPA approved:  All expenditures are carefully audited and made public by an independent certified public auditor (CPA).

2.        USAID approved: Bless the Children is approved by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  Each year strict government guidelines and reporting requirements to receive U.S. Government Funding for Foreign Assistance Programs are met.  By way of example this year we were awarded a Food for Peace grant in a very competitive grant process through the International Food Relief Program. 

3.        CFC approved:  As a member in good standing of the Federal Government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), we meet strict standards of compliance annually in order to qualify for participation.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Bless the Children has a strong purpose to bring the love of service to everyone. There is no greater cure to an unhappy life, depression or just a feeling of purposelessness than helping another.  Real help is possible and you are invited to act on your love for children through Bless the Children.

Many opportunities are available:

• Individuals may volunteer to travel on team trips to Central America to help the poorest of the poor through medical care.  Trips may be coordinated to renovate schools, assist with tree planting, as well as volunteer on an extended basis.  College students regularly volunteer to work in Central America to benefit children and their communities through our programs.
• For many years Bless the Children has worked with groups to provide children the tools they need to obtain an education.  Our “Student Kits Program” is perfect for groups, students, clubs, Girl and Boy Scout troops and individuals of all ages to assist severely impoverished children with basic school supplies.  Many children throughout the world are unable to go to school because they do not have supplies.  In South America there are children who write softly with stubby pencils, knowing later the nuns will erase their work so the pages may be used by another class.  In Africa there are children who will never graduate High School only because there is no paper with which to take the exam.  Our “Student Kits Program” allows anyone to assemble school supplies, knowing they will be received by a child in need thus making a tremendous difference in the life and future of a child with no resources.
• Individuals are desperately needed to help spread the word in local communities about the needs of orphaned and impoverished children and organize fund raisers.  Word of mouth and true enthusiasm go very far in bringing help to children.  Millions of children depend on what we do, here and now, to make their invisible lives known and cared for.
• Federal government employees are invited to help in our Combined Federal Campaign efforts by distributing information on Bless the Children’s health and educational programs for impoverished children to their co-workers.

Bless the Children welcomes all support.  We look forward to working with you to break the cycle of poverty so many children of this world can not break free from alone.  All actions towards the resolution of this situation make a difference.  You are important.  You can make a difference.