Sponsor a Native American Child,
Family, or Elder
Spirit Rising
Spirit Rising is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1989 by Sun Eagle and his wife Sharon Gentle Wind to assist Native American children, families and elders who are living in desperate, poverty driven situations on Indian Reservations.
The Sponsorship Program
The Spirit Rising Sponsorship Program has been operating for 15 years during which time more than 800 children have been sponsored by caring people throughout the US and in many countries abroad (England, Germany, Australia, Scotland, Canada, France). In its Sponsorship Program, Spirit Rising's main vision is to help children be children by easing the pain that comes from a lack of the physical necessities of food, clothing, and protection from the cold. Spirit Rising believes that helping the children now can change what has become a legacy of poverty and addiction.
Spirit Rising currently has over 200 children waiting for sponsors. These are children who live with poverty every day and for whom the sponsorships provide a ray of light to their life. The Sponsorship Program not only helps to meet the needs of the children but also gives them contacts with the world beyond the reservation. The benefits go two ways - to the child/family/elder and the sponsoring person/family.
Spirit Rising encourages direct contact between the sponsor and the child/family/elder via telephone and mail and sometimes e-mail. This arrangement has been highly beneficial to all involved.
They ask that sponsors not send money but that instead buy things the child/family/elder needs and send those directly (items to be chosen in consultation with the parent/caretaker.)
Spirit Rising takes no money from the Sponsorship program and
charges no fees. All resources go directly to the child/family.
Spirit Rising asks that the spiritual beliefs and cultural practices of the Native Americans be respected. Most of the Lakota people practice their traditional culture and spiritual beliefs. Many of them also attend Christian churches. Sponsors are asked to respect those beliefs, whatever they may be.
The sponsorship program provides, at a minimum, recognition of and gifts for the child at Easter, Birthday, Beginning of School, Thanksgiving and Christmas, the times when the families and children most need support. Contributions to the children/families/Spirit Rising are tax deductible.
If you are interested in more information about becoming a sponsor, please contact Spirit Rising at bakers2@ptd.net or by visiting www.spirit-rising.org and completing the inquiry form. After the initial contact and an exchange of information, Spirit Rising will move quickly to put you and your child/family/elder in touch with each other and begin a meaningful and lasting friendship.
In order to share the expense, many people team up with their family members or others to sponsor a child, family or elder. Please ask Spirit Rising about partnership sponsoring!
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