Anyone else get a sponsorhsip request with photo? Cancel Title is required

In the mail today I got what looks like the info pack you get when you
request information on sponsoring a child.  At first I thought it was
just a mistake. But it turns out it is a request to sponsor another
child.  I know I have gotten things like this before in the mail but was
different in that it was one specific child. This just seemed over the
top to me.  I am really kind of bothered by it.  Offended almost.  Anyone else get one and have any thoughts?  I am about to go to bed and
know I will kept awake by the fact I just threw away that kids photo.
Just a cruel thing to do to someone.

I have never received a random photo packet, though I've been getting many requests both online and in snail mail to increase my contribution..lately it seems I get them more often than I receive info on my sponsored kids. How about you? do you get those?

Yes I get those also.  I actually got a request yesterday also in the mail for Anti-Parasite funds. Most of the time I contribute to those ($25).  My employer matches all my contributions which they tell me goes into the Emergency Fund.

I've never gotten a child-specific packet in the mail unless one of my own children had left the program or I requested it from the Waiting Children list. How strange! I'd be willing to bet it was a glitch in the system somewhere--the packet was intended for someone else and got your address?

I received a packet once that was the standard "Sponsorship Welcome Packet" ... I was expecting one, because I had just started sponsoring Yojana. The child enclosed wasn't Yojana, though! A quick glance at the family report showed me that the account number didn't match mine, so I just emailed CI and let them know about the mistake. They sent the correct packet right away.

I'm also being bombarded with requests to increase my contributions as well. I'm beginning to wonder if Children International is still a non profit organization. I can barely afford to give what I am, let alone trying to get more from me.

EVERY SPONSOR GETS A REQUEST FOR DONATIONS TO A VARIOUS LIST OF NEEDS THAT C.I. IS TRYING TO FILL. IF I HAVE IT I WILL DONATE, IF NOT I DON'T. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE BEING OFFENSIVE OVER THIS. SIMPLY IGNORE THE REQUESTS. I GET SO MANY PHONE CALLS EVERYDAY FOR CHARITIES THAT I HAVE TO UNPLUG THE PHONE. WE ARE SPONSORS WITH C.I., SO YES WE WILL GET DONATION REQUESTS FROM THEM, THATS HOW THE GOOD WORK GETS DONE. IT'S YOUR DECISION TO DONATE OR NOT.    GEEEZ............

I don't believe that I have ever received mail from CI until I started sponsoring.  As soon as I stopped, the mail also stopped coming.  As debbies mentioned, you can just let them know that you do not want such mail anymore (like a do not mail / do not call request).  It doesn't bother me at all.  I'm sure that it may take a little time for you to get off the do not mail / do not call request as well - you will need some patience here.  There are so many children that need our help - if we can't help, we can simply pass the info along to a friend or colleague.  It's my understanding that the minimum $25 a month not only helps your child, but also the other children in the program who do not have sponsors...and a whole lot more!  So it is necessary for CI to request additional donations...if you are able to assist.  No one is obligated to give.  Thanks to CI for their great work and for all sponsors or non-sponsors who have contributed to the success of this program! 

I feel that a lot is being done with the sponsorship fees and that in order to grow and maintain, increases are needed. So I don't feel like they're trying to profit off the requests. I was just surprised @ how often the online requests pop up. I'm not going to put myself on any list as of now though :)

My husband received today an envelope from CI marked "Urgent" "Express delivery" "Important" and he thougt something very sad had happened to Geraldin, his sponsored child. When he opened the letter he found a picture and a full family record for another child and again he thought that Geraldin had left the program. Even though we have asked NOT to have another child automatically added to  our accounts if a child leaves (we have just said goodbye to Daniel because of the closure of the Chile program) my husband was convinced that that was what had happened. It took some time to find out that the letter was a request to sponsor the child on the photo. 

The letter did not work as intended...not at all...it was in fact a very unpleasant experience. And a terrible feeling to tear a picture of a child to pieces to avoid that it is found in the trash by others.

nickyste: This letter was completely different from the other letters/flyers/magazines/pamphlets with requests we have received during the years and as you say, we donate if we want to and don't if we don't. But I agree with chicagomike that this kind of letter is over the top!

I have just asked CI NOT to send any more of this type of requests, but who could have known in advance that we would receive this kind of letters?

wow, this is the first time I've heard of CI sending information packets on a specific child WITHOUT it being requested. 

The only other time I've seen sponsorship requests through the mail is the "end the wait" brochures. 

@musigal: The letters with the photos that are being described are part of the End the Wait campaign. Some sponsors received the typical booklet full of photos, and others received a photo of a child that was waiting.  The child is not already assigned to the sponsors' account, and I believe each photo was sent to more than one sponsor (but don't quote me on that because it's been a long day). Obviously, it didn't quite go over as intended with all the sponsors it was mailed to.  

@frumor: I'm so sorry that you and your husband were worried about Geraldin - I can relate, as I just lost Josue. I have shared the comments made on this thread with our Marketing Dept. and they are very interested in them.  

Thanks to all who shared. 

I have called a couple different times asking the same questions you have. They don't mind. Remember, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. We all have had questions at one time or another and I think they expect it.

Hello, 
I just became a sponsor, can you tell me where is your child from? Geraldin?  I just started sponsoring a Yeraldin from Colombia and I'm just curious, as it is not a common name in South America at all.

Thanks.

Her Geraldin is from Ecuador and is 15 years old.  No worries.  Geraldin is on frumor's husband's account.