1 person found this review helpful
Review from CharityNavigator Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA)
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May 19, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
Sponsoring the two children in Guatemala through CFCA is one of the most important things we do. The days we receive letters are the best days. It is so personal to write to our sponsored children and hear from them. It is easy to know that they receive what we send as they write to thank us. We recently had the priveledge to meet the children on a Mission Awareness Trip to Guatemala. How cool is that? To actually meet the children you are helping!!!
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Going to Guatemala and seeing first hand the work that CFCA is doing there.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Get discounted airfare so the sponsors could afford to go meet their sponsored families easier.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
May 12, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
We sponsor a girl in Guatemala and one in Honduras and also sponsor two boys in Guetamala on behalf or our two daughters (they each have a sponsored friend to write to). The relationship developed through our letters has been great, but it was magnified many times over when our whole family went to Guatemala on a mission awareness trip and met our three Guatemalan children. I can't desrcirbe the feelings encountered when meeting our sponsored children and their families. Suffice it to say that they are memories and emoitions that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. The sense of connection between different cultures and different families reinforces our belief how we are all God's children and we can all help each other. Our sponsored children and their families gave us great gifts - the gift of their spirit of family, their smiles and hugs, and of the lovethey showed for strangers they had never met. Our lives are better because of the relationships we have developeed through CFCA. Plus, we were able to be with Bob Hentzen when he started his amazing 8,000 mile walk from Guatemala to Chile to visit hs CFCA projects and sponsored children and aging. Since then we have been volunteering at churches in hopes of encouraging others to join the CFCA family.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The bonds we have formed with our sponsored children and by meeting them and touring various CFCA projects and families homes in Guatemala.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I can't think of any now that they offer internet sponsorship capablity. This is an amazing organization!!!
1 person found this review helpful
May 10, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
I have been sponsoring a child through CFCA since 2009 and am so grateful to have found such an incredible and inspirational organization!!! They are truly committed to helping others. I have even been able to visit their location in San Lucas Guatemala to meet my sponsor child. What a blessed experience that was!!!
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Last year during my trip I was able to meet and talk with Bob Hentzen. What a truly remarkable person!! He demonstrates his love and commitment to his organization and the people involved in everything he does. What a blessing it was to meet the founder of such a great company!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Can not think of anything that needs changed!! This is an exceptional organization
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
How did you learn about this organization?
Through my last parish in Lenexa, KS
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
April 13, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
CFCA was recommended to me by my mother, who had wonderful experiences with them, however I needed to do my own research before making a decision regarding which organizaion was best for our family to connect with. After MUCH research and talking with others, we joined CFCA almost 10 years ago! It has been such a blessing to our family to be able to help provide for the needs of others in a manner that's efficient, honest and trustworthy. We have been able to sponsor 2 children, one of which we've had since the beginning, so it's been AMAZING to watch him grow, as our family grows also, now with 2 children of our own. To learn of their struggling environments, and to hear how much they (sponsored children) appreciate simple things like medical treatment, school supplys, an education, etc, has been very humbling to us, and makes us realize how much we are needed. As Americans, it's so easy to take simple things like those for granted. Receiving letters and updated pictures of our sponsored children is wonderful and I believe whole heartedly in CFCA and their integrity. They've always been enourmously helpful and easy to work with. They enable people like you and I to get involved and be Jesus to those in need. Thank you CFCA for all that you do to help others!!!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my own life. When helping others, you also get much in return.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
find a way to make it possible for donors to be able to send gifts/packages of any size (within reason), and to find a safe and trusted way to make sure they arrive. Also, would be GREAT to receive some kind of verification that things we send our sponsored friends are actually received...we never have, so we don't know if they've ever gotten things we've sent, so we don't send packages often anymore.
April 11, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
I had an incredible experience on a mission trip in El Salvador through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. It was difficult to see some of the extreme situations of poverty that these people lived in, but serving them and building new houses for them brought a lot of joy as well. In all of the communities we visited during our trip, we were constantly surrounded by so much joy and love! I loved playing with the children because they are very cute and so open to strangers. It is not like it is in the US, where kids are afraid to go up to people they don't know. the children and adults alike are just so ready to love others even though they may not know them at all. Also, I was impressed by how simply the people in El Salvador live their lives. They are not as attached to material things as many people are in the US. They are not caught up in technology all the time and many do not even know all these little gadgets and gizmos exist! Even the simplest device like a digital camera, is fascinating to them. Once they figured out that their face showed up on the screen they wanted a million pictures taken of each one of them. Those children are precious and I miss their happiness, joy, love, and laughter! I learned so much more than I expected to while on this trip and I am so glad I took the steps to be able to attend! It was an absolutely life changing adventure and I would recommended it to anyone who truly wants to serve those in need.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
How joyful the communities were when they knew that people from CFCA were visiting. The joy and generosity from the members of those communities showed us how much this organization is respected by the people. The communities continuously showered us with generosity and love like we had never before experienced, which allowed us to see how grateful the people are for the support they receive from CFCA.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
The trip was exceptional! Only small additions could make it even better. My suggestion would be to have an additional day in which the team is performing service for the people of the country, in a different form than building houses, such as; visiting a school, an opportunity to evangelize or maybe teach children religion classes, or care for the sick in some way.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Likely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
More than one type or opportunity of service based work.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Yes! I met a lot of people of a new culture, experienced a new culture, was moved by the positive attitudes of the people I met, learned a few words and phrases in a new language, and learned a few skills about how to build a simple 3-room house.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
This experience made me feel amazing! I feel like and know that I can make a difference for someone or many in this world.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
1 person found this review helpful
April 10, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
I have sponsored children through CFCA since 1998, and I have developed a passion for this wonderful organization. I am currently sponsoring 2 children, in Guatemala and Honduras. Besides the original folder and annual pictures (and of course, wonderful letters), I received a picture of the family of the boy in Guatemala for Christmas. It was so special to meet his family that way! CFCA hosts optional Mission Awareness Trips for sponsors to visit the country, learn about CFCA's work in that area and the local culture, and meet the sponsored child and some of his/her family, spending a day with them. I have been on 2 of these trips, taking each of my sons. They were awesome!
Bob Hentzen, the CFCA president, lives in Guatemala. He knows and loves the people in all of the countries CFCA serves, and is immersed in the work of the organization, as evidenced by his current walking pilgrimage from Guatemala to Chile in solidarity with the people they help (a total of over 8000 miles, in about 17 months).
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
... Guatemala, on 2 Mission Awareness trips. I also made a personal trip there with a friend to study Spanish and we arranged with CFCA to meet our sponsored children. We saw CFCA's great work and partnerships with local projects. I recently went to Bolivia to join Walk2Gether, the pilgrimage from Guatemala to Chile, for 4 days, walking with Bob Hentzen, his wife Cristina, other sponsors, hard working CFCA staff members, and many local people who joined us for part of each day. Amazing experience!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I can't think of anything that needs to change. The staff is efficient and friendly, the communication is clear and the processes are well defined.
1 person found this review helpful
April 7, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
we cannot say enough positive things about CFCA from the leadership in Kansas City to the professional staff throughout the world. we sponsor elderly folks around the world and have been to six countries to meet our friends. we encourage are family and friends to become sponsors because the need is real, the dignity and hope that CFCA provides beyone the financial support is outstanding. we recommend CFCA to anyone who is considering serving the poor.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Several mission trips
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
get more sponsors
April 7, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
For years I dragged my feet when considering sponsoring a child. A lot of the charities doing that seemed manipulative to me. Then, a priest came to my church to describe CFCA and his experience with it. I was sold. My family and I sponsored a child immediately.
Although my first sponsored child had to leave the programs for reasons of his own, we took on another child with no hesitation.
My family and I look forward to the letters from our sponsored child. I also enjoy the email updates I get. They come fairly often, but don't overwhelm me like some email lists I belong to.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the way I view poverty and the injustice that comes along with that. Not only do I sponsor a child now, but now I am a vocal proponent of programs that seek to reduce the wealth disparity seen around the world.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
offer an option to communicate electronically. I know this is probably not feasible, but I think I would write more often if this was a possibility. I know handwritten letters are more personal, and I'd hate to lose the ones from my sponsored child, however.
April 6, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
CFCA allows me to see what my donation is acutally doing. I have been sponsoring a boy in India for 7 years. I receive at least 3 letters from him per year and one picture. The first 3 years there were no smiles on the pictures, now he smiles so big and is dressed so nice with clothes provided by the hostel, were he lives and goes to school, due to living so far from the hostel. Because of my sponsorship his room and board, his clothing, his schooling and a compensation for his family is taken care of. He also gets to celebrate his birthday and Christmas through my sponsorship. He and his family are so very greatful, as he mentions in his letters. He tells me about his schoolwork, and how he is doing. He promises me he will work very hard in shcool to show me how happy he is to be there. He tells me about his sisters and brother and mom and dad, what their home is like, that they now raise a few pigs, and when he goes home he helps his father work in their small field. They live in a grass hut, with a dirt floor, no electricily or running water. His letters are signed "Your loving friend." He draws a beautiful picture on everyone of his letters. I am so excited when one of his letters comes. His letters, and those to him from me are all translated by on of the staff at the hostel.. I am so amazed that CFCA can organize all the corespondence that travels between the sponors and their child or adult, and send out the yearly pictures. This is why CFCA is the best charity. You can form a bond with the person you are helping and actually see what your donation is doing. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers work at the CFCA headquarters in Kansas City, and one of it's founders, 80 year old Bob Hentzen, is now walking 8,000 miles across Latin America to encourage sponsorship.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
It is so rewarding to see the excitement of new sponsors I have brought to CFCA, because I know what I have gained from my sponsorship, and now others will feel it too.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
It would be nice of there were more ministers and priests to go to churches to give presentations, as that is how I found out about CFCA, but I realize there are not that many to go around. I think they are received at churches better than a lay person, but I will keep trying.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
April 6, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
We have sponsored two children, one in Dominican Republic and one in Costa Rica. We have been able to visit both of them and see first hand what great things CFCA is doing for them. It is nothing short of a miracle how they provide food, clothes, education, and health care for just $30/ mo. Anyone reading this could not go wrong by putting your giving dollars to this organization.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
We went to Costa Rica and visited one of CFCA's projects. They were feeding over 300 people a day for about 35 cents a meal. We could not leave without sponsoring a little girl in a family of 8. They lived in a tin shack, dirt floors, and slept on pallets. We returned 6 years later and the family had just moved into a cinder block home with cement floors, and all of the family members had a bed. The children were well fed, and getting an education. None of that would have been possible without CFCA's help.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I wish that CFCA would ask everyone of their sponsors to make it a goal to get one additional sponsor for a child or elderly person each year. Doubling there numbers each year would make such a great difference in the world.
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