Sowder Family Donates More than $300,000 to Expand Remediation Program for Christel House
Monday, September 16, 2013
The Sowder family has donated more than $300,000 to Christel House International (CHI) to expand the Sowder Transformational Academic Rewards and Support (STARS) Program which provides remediation programs to CHI students around the world.Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) August 14, 2013
The Sowder family has donated more than $300,000 to Christel House International(CHI) to expand the Sowder Transformational Academic Rewards and Support (STARS) Program which provides remediation programs to CHI students around the world.
“Thanks to the Sowder family’s ongoing support, the STARS program is providing struggling Christel House students with individualized help to close learning gaps,” said Christel DeHaan, Christel House Founder and CEO. “We are enormously grateful to Cindy and her family for their generosity, and for their steadfast commitment to fund additional academic support for students whose needs are the greatest.”
In 2012, the STARS Program assisted more than 600 students with language arts remediation, and helped nearly 750 students struggling with math in India, Mexico, South Africa and the United States. STARS funding also provided extra study sessions for high school students preparing for final tests and graduation exams.
“I believe that we all have a responsibility to help mankind whether it is one dollar, thousands of dollars, or the giving of our time,” said Cindy Sowder, founding funder of the STARS program. “There are so many worthy charities. When I found Christel House I knew this was the one I wanted to support. I am very proud to be a part of what Christel began. She is a visionary and a woman of compassion and integrity. Each time I visit a school and meet the kids and the staff I realize how much I am changing lives. I read somewhere that the true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. I hope to plant many trees.”
The Sowder family’s gift will expand the program for the 2013-2014 school year.
About Christel House International
Christel House International (CHI) is transforming how kids, their families and future generations permanently escape poverty. Much more than a school, CHI was established in 1998 by founder Christel DeHaan and currently serves over 4,000 impoverished children around the world. By providing high quality education, nutritious meals, regular health care, character and life skills development, and career counseling, CHI helps students grow into confident, hardworking and ethical young adults who give back to their families and communities. CHI operates five learning centers in India, Mexico, South Africa and the U.S.A., as well as a career development program in Venezuela. For more information, please visit http://www.christelhouse.org.