August 2, 2017

Organization Benefitting Children Goes Global with New Brand Change

Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review

Ti Man, a school-age boy in Myanmar, lost his father recently. With no income coming from his mother, both risked starving. But now Ti Man is attending a Seventh-day Adventist mission school, where he also gets food every day, thanks to Asian Aid USA (AAUSA), a supporting ministry of the church that has educated tens of thousands of children in mission schools for over 50 years.

Asian Aid USA recently announced a brand change—as of today, August 1, the charity organization based in Ooltewah, Tennessee, United States becomes Child Impact International.

“This is part of a bold new growth strategy to meet the needs of thousands of needy and poor children and to give urgently needed support to Adventist mission schools,” wrote the organization CEO Jim Rennie in an official communication where he announced the name change.

The board, staffing, office location, and policies stay the same, said organization leaders. But it is expected the new name will bolster the implementation of ongoing and future projects.

“[We believe] Child Impact International will allow our organization to grow,” said Child Impact International Chairman John Truscott. “It will give momentum to help thousands of new needy children.”

The new logo of Child Impact International (former Asian Aid USA), an organization fully supportive of the Seventh-day Adventist Church mission. [Image: Child Impact International]

The organization is currently sponsoring over 3,500 children in Adventist mission schools in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, according to the charity leaders. It also sponsors a school for the blind, a school for the deaf and four orphanages, all run by the church. Other projects include slum schools, child trafficking, and Adventist mission school development.

Name Change Benefits

The charity board believes the new brand brings several benefits. Among them, they mention that the name reflects more accurately the critical work the organization does in impacting the lives of children and prevents overlapping with similar organizations.

“It avoids confusion with participating countries in Asia, and with Asian Aid Australia, which is a separate organization,” wrote Renner. “Child Impact International will be able to expand outside Asia and be more effective on an international basis.”

The new name also gives momentum to a bold growth strategy, leaders said.

“Child Impact International [wants to] create improved communication with donors using the latest technology,” wrote Renner. “For existing donors, there will be no changes,” he said, “but over time donors will see an improvement in communication with the children and projects they support.”

Renner explained that the key need the organization currently has is finding sponsorship for unsponsored children. “Right now, we have over 250 [unsponsored] children in Myanmar and 250 in India,” he said. “These are real needy children in Adventist mission schools.”

Renner encouraged donors to step up. “If you can’t sponsor a child, you can help with giving to the Unsponsored Child fund,” he said. “[And] donors can be confident that their support of Child Impact International will have a huge impact on the lives of children. Sponsorship has an impact!”

Child Impact International is a fully supportive ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and supports children, orphans, and special needs children in Adventist schools and homes. Over 90 percent of funds remitted overseas go to Adventist mission schools, said the organization leaders. “This way, the life of the child is changed, and the mission school gains unique funds,” they said.

The Child Impact International website will go live on August 20. Meanwhile, donors and people interested in supporting this ministry can visit the Asian Aid USA website.

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