http://www.chances4children.org/c4c/media/news en allan@espringdesigns.com Copyright 2011 2011-11-03T19:09:06+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/chances_for_children_president_kathi_juntunen_is_interviewed_by_channel_12_/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/chances_for_children_president_kathi_juntunen_is_interviewed_by_channel_12_/#When:19:09:06Z Watch this video clip to learn more about our work in Haiti and our 4th Annual Food Drive Help us feed 350 children living in orphanages in Haiti. Want to make a difference in the life of an orphaned child – but not sure how? Well here is an easy way - help us meet our goal of 10,000 pounds of needed food items for orphanages in Haiti.  There are 3 ways you can get involved: 1) make a financial donation from our website 2) mail a box of food to our warehouse in Florida following these instructions 3) if you live in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area visit the D.C. Ranch Village to drop off food items or contact kathi@chances4children.org to schedule a pickup for larger quantities. We need to receive your donations by December 1st. Thank you for your support and for making a difference in the lives of orphaned children in Haiti. 2011-11-03T19:09:06+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/progress_at_our_sustainable_community_center_in_kenscoff_haiti/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/progress_at_our_sustainable_community_center_in_kenscoff_haiti/#When:17:19:51Z C4C President, Kathi Juntunen, spent two weeks in Haiti this month to check on the construction progress at the orphanage that will be part of the C4C Sustainable Community Project. The orphanage is not only meeting all of it's timelines, it is also very well constructed. The 60 orphaned children who were living in tents and plywood shelters are eagerly anticipating the completion of their new home. C4C did a painting project with the kids and asked them all to paint some of their favorite things - you will have to visit the photo gallery link to see what "popped up" in all of their paintings. Each child is so excited to have a real bedroom and bathroom! Please join C4C and Alliance for Children by donating to help us complete this home. In addition, C4C in partnership with the Apparent Project, launched the Artisan Craft Program - a project designed to empower women in the community by creating a consistent means for them to create income to care for their children. Take a look at some of the beautiful necklaces they are creating - contact C4C is you would like to purchase necklaces for your holiday giving. C4C will also be partnering with 2 other donor groups to build a new adoption creche in Kenscoff and a Community Center to provide vocational training, a workroom for the Artisan Craft Program, a medical clinic and long term volunteer housing. All of these components will come together to create a vision of providing hope for children and their families through economic programs, faith/church, orphan care and education.  Many amazing blessings being brought to the community - please consider joining us by making a financial contribution, as we work to improve lives for families in Haiti. Be sure to see photos of all these programs at: http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/media/photo_gallery/C31/ 2011-10-14T17:19:51+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/help_us_get_60_orphans_out_of_tents_and_into_a_new_home/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/help_us_get_60_orphans_out_of_tents_and_into_a_new_home/#When:20:33:43Z In January - 60 orphaned children were living in tents up in the rural area of Kenscoff, C4C has been able to build temporary plywood structures to keep them dry, but with hurricane season upon us - Chances for Children and Alliance for Children Foundation are working with our Haitian partner to get a hew home constructed for them We are still in need of donors to help us complete this house. It will be an amazing home for 60 deserving children. 6 Bedrooms upstairs and another 4 downstairs with indoor plumbing and at least 6 bathrooms. The kids are very excited to see the progress on their new home, for many of them this is the only dream they have - to be in a house with a bathroom. Won't you consider making a donation to help us complete the construction by year end. We are 70% of the way there!!!! Here are some photos showing where the children used to live and what their new home looks like..... you can also visit our photo gallery to see more shots of the construction progress http://www.chances4children.org/c4c/media/photo_gallery/ and you can click on the Donate page to make a financial committment. http://www.chances4children.org/c4c/donate/contribute/Thank you!         Where the children have been living!        The new home we need your help to complete! 2011-08-27T20:33:43+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/sustainable_community_project_in_kenscoff_haiti/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/sustainable_community_project_in_kenscoff_haiti/#When:18:10:24Z Chances for Children (C4C) is excited to announce the start of our “Community Care Center” in Kenscoff, Haiti. Kenscoff is a rural mountain community approximately 15 miles east of Port au Prince. This project is being developed jointly between C4C and, Coeurs de Compassion-International Helping Hearts (IHH), a Haitian NGO. We have purchased the land and construction is under way. The project’s focus is to create a center within the community of Kenscoff to achieve four primary goals: Launch a community agriculture project Provide permanent, family style housing to orphaned children Construct a school for the community. Provide on-site housing for volunteers, staff and caregiver families. Expand the church for the growing community. The goal of this project is to strengthen the community of Kenscoff , which has a history of agricultural richness.  Due to the fact that farmers were not taught how to best utilize their land and preserve their soil, farming has slowly deteriorated in this area. Over 90% of the people living in this community were formerly working in farming, but with poor crop production and limited training and resources they abandoned farming and migrated into Port au Prince to search for other work. This has also led to the erosion of the family structure, leaving many children without parents or in situations where parents have no income to support their families. C4C is partnering with other organizations to help achieve success with this Community Center. Alliance for Children Foundation will be providing the majority of funding to construct an orphanage for 60 children. Washington State University will take a leadership role, helping us launch the agricultural initiative. We are looking for other Founding Members to help us complete the other components of the project. Helping individuals become economically successful will bring about healthy and vibrant families.   2011-07-22T18:10:24+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/the_children_of_haiti_need_hope_...._they_need_you/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/the_children_of_haiti_need_hope_...._they_need_you/#When:01:32:02Z Chances for Children is excited to launch a child sponsorship program allowing you the opportunity to serve an orphaned child in Haiti. Your sponsorship will help us provide hope and life to many children in orphanages throughout Haiti. Your gift of $30 a month will provide two meals a day, clothing, shelter, medical care and will even help school age children attend school. In exchange for your monthly donation you will receive individualized communication from your sponsored child. We are thrilled to be able to help many more children in Haiti who spend their lives in underfunded orphanages. These children need our support - please join us in helping them achieve their potential. Please visit  http://www.chances4children.org/sponsorship  to learn all about sposnoring a child. We also encourage you to contact our Sponsorship Manager, Nicole Newman at nicole@chances4children.org with any questions. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of orphaned children in Haiti. 2011-05-25T01:32:02+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/putting_your_donations_to_work_in_haiti/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/putting_your_donations_to_work_in_haiti/#When:17:40:23Z Chances for Children disputes media reports that many donations are not going to Haiti - just take a look at how we have used our donations. Take a look at these before and after photos and you will see one example of our stewardship and responsiblity to the communities we serve in Haiti. This is one of the non-adoption orphanages we support. When we first started providing support to this site the 60 children were living in tents as a result of being displaced in the earthquake. After working with the Directors at this orphanage we purchased lumber, cement, roofing materials and beds to create new bedrooms and a classroom for all the children. This is just one example of how your donations are put to work in Haiti. More stories will be coming soon and visit our photo gallery for additional pictures of the improvements at this site.   2011-04-21T17:40:23+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/chances_for_children_admitted_this_precious_child_into_our_new_creche_in_po/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/chances_for_children_admitted_this_precious_child_into_our_new_creche_in_po/#When:23:12:27Z    Chances for Children admitted this precious child into our new creche in Port au Prince this week. She is 1 1/2 years old and was living at a non-adoption orphanage for the last 6 months. Her birth father was forced to abandon her because he was not able to take care of her. We are very excited to have her under our care and even more excited to find her an adoptive family. Your donations allow us to find and admit more children like her and to care for them until they can become part of a family. 2011-03-27T23:12:27+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/children_admitted_for_adoption/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/children_admitted_for_adoption/#When:22:35:39Z Introducing our newest admission! Chances for Children met this little boy in Cayes 4 months ago. He flew on a plane with Alecia to be admitted into our new creche today (2/28/2011).This effort required lots of work on the part of everyone on the C4C team, our TACR team in Haiti and the attorneys. We are excited to have him underour care and available for a qualified adoptive family. 2011-02-28T22:35:39+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/james_and_pedro_arrive_in_u.s/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/james_and_pedro_arrive_in_u.s/#When:14:49:12Z Insitut Univers graduates Pedro and James arrived in Kentucky on Jan 14th and have begun their Intensive English Program at Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY. Georgetown is a Christian liberal arts college. They are living on campus and have enjoyed their first week. Among their firsts is their first encounter with snow this winter! We will send an update on their progress after their first quarter at Georgetown. Thank you to all who contributed to helping Chances for Children bring them to the United States. 2011-01-24T14:49:12+00:00 http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/one_year_remembrance_-_day_of_prayer/ http://www.chances4children.org/index.php/c4c/read/one_year_remembrance_-_day_of_prayer/#When:01:52:23Z January 12, 2011 – A year ago today our world changed! A year ago today, Haiti’ was rocked with an earthquake that shook the country and its inhabitants to the core. Thousands of lives were lost and 100’s of thousands more were impacted.  We were all touched by this tragedy - we prayed and grieved with our brothers and sisters in Haiti. In Haiti today, the country pauses for a day of prayer. The lives lost a year ago today, will be forever mourned, but in the midst of crisis and despair, hope emerged.  A year has passed and it is a fitting time to step back and reflect on the shock and destruction that this day brought, but it is also an opportunity to praise the many acts of generosity, compassion, kindness and hope that came as a result of this tragedy. For Chances for Children, this past year has been a year of unprecedented service in Haiti. In the last 12 months, we have made over 15 trips to Haiti, brought teams of volunteers, delivered 46,000 pounds of food, supplies, medicines to children and families in tent encampments. We have expanded our network and the communities that we support in Haiti. This past year with the financial support of our donors, C4C provided the following services and programs in Haiti: Set up a new orphanage in Port au Prince, Royaume des Enfants de Dieu. This family style crèche will be home to orphaned children as they await their adoptions. Provided student scholarships for the full school year to 350 student displaced in the earthquake. Sponsored 2 Haitian High School Students who start college in the U.S. this month. Funded an orphanage in Cayes which is home to orphaned children and C4C is matching families with these children. Provided monthly donations of food, medicine and aid to Non-Adoption Orphanages in Haiti. These orphanages are located in some of the most desperate of settings where children live in stark conditions with little in the way of outside support. Through these monthly donations, C4C and its donors are able to positively affect the lives of an additional 400 children. Completed our 3rd annual Box Drive at the end of the year, with a record number of donations received. A shipping container sails this week loaded with approximately 15,000 pounds of food, clothing, building supplies, mattresses and medicine to be delivered to all the programs we support. C4C is also launching 2 new partnerships to continue in our Mission to provide hope for the children of Haiti. More information on these programs will be provided soon. Thank you for reaching out to Haiti. We are appreciative of the support we receive – your financial donations enable us to continue to expand our programs and serve even more children in Haiti. Please visit our photo gallery to see pictures of each of our Haiti programs: http://www.chances4children.org/c4c/media/photo_gallery/  If you are interested in joining us on a Mission Trip please visit this link: http://www.chances4children.org/c4c/donate/get_involved/ 2011-01-12T01:52:23+00:00