Change is inevitable. It’s not necessarily fun, is most often disruptive and stressful, can be messy but it is still a part of life and thus inevitable. This is the case at RMI currently. We are undergoing a few changes so, please pardon our dust!
Internal Dust
We are in the process of changing our donor management database. The process has indeed been disruptive, stressful and messy, not to mention it’s taking quite a bit longer than we thought. The RMI US staff has been tirelessly working to get the changes finalized. It is mostly an internal change, but you will notice it in the receipts you receive as well as our increased ability to keep you up to date on the latest happenings at RMI.
Haiti Field Dust
The Haiti field is undergoing changes as they work to reposition current staff, hire additional qualified personnel in a number of positions and re-organize our scheduling calendar to accommodate more teams. It’s stretching everyone!
Hope for Kidz Dust
Hope for Kidz is going through a major change as well. This new donor management database now gives us the capacity to offer monthly child support payments. Because of this you can now either send in your full support in one lump sum or in monthly payments. RMI trusts that this new option will enable people who might not be able to afford a lump sum one-time payment to be able to now sponsor a child for the first time.
New Pricing Structure
While making this option available, RMI also analyzed their current sponsorship rate. The basic Hope for Kidz sponsorship amount has stayed at $200 for approximately 7 years (not including the $50 increase to help fund the hot lunch program). In recent years, Haiti has been impacted by global inflation even more so than the US. This inflation has dramatically impacted the costs associated with education such as tuition rates, entrance fees, school supplies, etc. Because RMI does not want to limit any child in their access to a quality Christian education, the decision was made to change the sponsorship rate from $250 a year to that of $28 per month.
New Monthly Rate: $28 per month
Start Date: March 2012 for the 2012-2013 school year
Transitioning to Monthly Payment Plan
The first monthly payment needs to be made by March 2012. This will ensure that RMI has the resources available to provide for all your child needs to start school in September/October.
How to Transition to the Monthly Payment Plan:
Option 1: Fill out an automatic recurring payment authorization form and return to RMI (available from your Hope for Kidz coordinator or the RMI website)
Option 2: Renew online HERE (available after March 5)
Option 3: Call the RMI Office at 239.368.8990 to set up recurring monthly payments.
Option 4: Send monthly check directly to RMI at 5475 Lee Street, Suite 301, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971. Your child’s name and ID number MUST be included!
New Benefits for Sponsors
· The ability to spread sponsorship payment out over a full year via the monthly plan
· The opportunity to send and receive 1-2 letters per year to their child. This has been something that many sponsors have desired and we are now able to accommodate
· Additional opportunities for interaction with their sponsored child are continuing to be examined and evaluated for possible future implementation
Continued & New Benefits to the Sponsored Child
· Continued provision of a quality Christian education
· Continued provision of needed school supplies
· Continued expansion of hot lunch program (currently feeding over 2,600 children in 12 schools each day)
· New Community Health Training Program in the schools starting with Annual De-Worming and Prevention Education
· Establishment of a new Emergency Major Medical Needs Fund for sponsored children: Continued provision of a quality Christian education
· Continued provision of needed school supplies
· Continued expansion of hot lunch program (currently feeding over 2,600 children in 12 schools each day)
· New Community Health Training Program in the schools starting with Annual De-Worming and Prevention Education
· Establishment of a new Emergency Major Medical Needs Fund for sponsored children
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When do I need to start paying in order for my child to be enrolled in school in the fall of 2012?
A. In order for the start-up costs to be covered by the beginning of school, the first monthly payment must be made by March 2012.
Q. How do I know if I will have the same child for the 2012-2013 school year?
A. Unless your child graduates or leaves the program, you can be assured that you will be continuing on with the same child. In the unlikely case that your child has graduated or left the program, RMI will work with you to provide you with a new child. Should your child not continue in the program and you do not choose to take on a new child, any funds received up until that point will be applied to the Hope for Kidz Program.
Q. When will my child’s new profile arrive?
A. New profiles will be distributed through your Hope for Kidz coordinator by August 2012 at the very latest.
Q. Can I still pay annually?
A. Yes. The annual cost is $336 per year. However, RMI is offering a special introductory offer of $300 for the 2012-2013 school year if payment is received by June 30, 2012.
Q. What if my financial situation changes and I am unable to fulfill my sponsorship commitment?
A. RMI will assume that you will be continuing your sponsorship of your child for as long as the child is available for sponsorship unless you indicate otherwise (a minimum of 12 months commitment). If your financial situation changes, please contact RMI as soon as possible. We would ask that you give us three months lead time before cancelling payment. This will enable us to find another sponsor for your child if at all possible.
Q. Who can I contact if I still have questions?
A. If you have questions that your Hope for Kidz Coordinator is unable to answer, contact Amanda at the RMI Office in Florida at amanda.biser@rminet.org or 239.368.8390.
Webinair Available
Amanda Biser, Hope for Kidz US Coordinator, recently hosted a 25 minute webinar explaining these changes. If you are interested, it can be found here: http://www.slideshare.net/amandabiser/hope-for-kidz-monthly-sponsorship-transition.
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