Bismarck Couple Changing Lives Around The World | Video

Kristin Clouston | 5/8/2011

Mother`s Day is the time to not only honor our actual mothers, but it also a day to honor women who have made a difference in the lives of others. It can be as simple as sponsoring a child, but a Bismarck woman and her husband sponsor many.

Karen and Bill Schneider are currently sponsoring 102 needy people through out the world.

The Schneiders believe in sponsorship so much, when they got married in 2008, instead of registering for gifts they asked friends to help fund a project in the Philippines. The project is helping an indigenous tribe keep its land and teach its members to read.

Bill explained, "Then the other thing is we`ve been traveling to meet the people that we sponsor, and you get to meet the social workers that administer the program."

Karen`s own children are now grown and she says if she could go back, there`s one thing she`d do differently as a mother.

She said, "I would make my children go on a mission trip. Sponsor a child. Not us as an adult, but let the children pick out a child or even an elderly like a grandma or grandpa and communicate with them. That mission trip is probably the most impressionable thing they can do."

The Schneiders sponsor elderly people in 12 different countries.

"The other thing we found out it really gives the folks a lot of hope. In many cases, whether the slums of Nairobi or Manila or Madagascar is there really is no opportunities to put themselves out there. There`s not government organizations or governments are corrupt or the families can`t help," added Bill.

He first heard of the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging about 8 years ago.

"I started doing some investigating and wanted to make sure the need was real. That the people were real, that the money was actually going to them, So I actually flew to their headquarters in Kansas City and went to this old warehouse where they have their headquarters. Found out they were very frugal. Ninety-four cents of the dollar goes to every recipient it`s just so cost effectively managed. I thought this is an organization that I can get behind. So I started going on mission trips to Africa. Karen and I have been to Guatemala and now the Philippians what not," said Bill.

The Schneiders say North Dakota is such a prosperous state and they hope others will follow their example whether it`s through CFCA or another highly rated charity.

"Poverty is such an enormous issue for the whole world. We can`t wipe it out all at once so all we ask is that people consider sponsoring just one poor person, either a child or an elderly person," said Bill. "If that happens, you know we`re going to start making a dent in things."

The Schneiders will be sharing some of their mission trip experiences next Sunday at New Song Community Church. The services are at 8:15 and 10:45.

You can learn more about CFCA by logging on to cfcausa.org.

These three sites rate charitable organizations: charitywatch.org, charitynavigator.org and bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO REGIONAL STORIES