What is the Coins 4 Kids program?
Coins 4 Kids is International Paper's employee-based giving program that uses employee contributions and a Foundation grant to provide meals to pre-primary and primary-aged school children near Nairobi, Kenya.

Why was Nairobi, Kenya, selected?
Conditions in this area are desperate - more than 25 percent of the population suffers from AIDS, and there are nearly 100,000 orphans in this area.

Why are we partnering with the World Food Program USA to distribute our donations?
As part of the world's largest humanitarian agency and the front-line agency in the fight against global hunger, the World Food Program USA has a 50-year track record of success in delivering food to some of the most impoverished people in the world. WFP USA has an extraordinarily low overhead cost of seven percent, as compared to an average among nonprofit organizations of 12-20 percent.

Why support kids in other countries? There are starving kids in our community.
The issue of hunger is a profound worldwide problem. However, nowhere is the situation more desperate or the need more compelling than in Africa, where there are no safety-nets like shelters or food banks in place to assist starving children.

Will the Coins 4 Kids commitment impact the amount of giving the IP Foundation makes domestically?
No. IP's philanthropic activities are primarily funded through the International Paper Foundation endowment. Support for this signature program will provide a global complement to our already substantial and continuing domestic giving activities.

If I am not an IP employee, can I be involved in the Coins 4 Kids program?
Yes. There are resources available on this site. For other questions, contact IP at coins4kids@ipaper.com.

Can I just send food/clothing/supplies?
Right now we are focused on food - the most critical issue. The food we are supplying is purchased in bulk, is culturally appropriate and addresses acute nutritional needs. We may expand the program to include other supplies at a future date.

Will I get information about the children I sponsor?
We hope to educate everyone about conditions in Kenya and will provide information on the progress of the children over the course of the program.

How much money is really going to the children?
The WFP has an extraordinarily low overhead cost of 7 percent, as compared to an average among nonprofit organizations of 12-20 percent. The $1 million grant from the Foundation will go toward feeding more than 72,000 children. Another check will be written to cover the administrative fees.

How do we keep the money collected/boxes secure from theft?
We will provide suggestions, but that is something that must be addressed at the local levels.

Can I write a check?
Yes, you can write a tax-deductible check made payable to U.S. Friends of WFP. Please send it to the Foundation office in Memphis to ensure it is applied to our C4K program. Here is the address:

International Paper
Coins 4 Kids
6400 Poplar Ave., Tower III
Memphis, TN 38197

How does this program differ from UNICEF?
The WFP is a sister agency of UNICEF under the United Nations umbrella. The WFP focuses on providing food to impoverished people; UNICEF's mission is primarily providing medicine to children.

Should we be concerned about the World Food Program USA's affiliation with the United Nations?
The World Food Program USA is a program of the United Nations, but is separately governed and receives no U.N. funding. All of WFP USA's $1.4 billion annual budget is raised through voluntary contributions, primarily from donor governments. The United States was responsible for the creation of WFP and, over its 50-year life span, has been consistently its largest contributor.

Who is monitoring the program to ensure it is being administered correctly and the right amount of food is reaching the children?
The WFP USA will work with the Kenyan government, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and school officials to ensure the food reaches its intended destination - hungry children in school. One of the advantages of school feeding is the food is prepared, served and eaten in front of the people monitoring the program. Measurements will also be employed throughout the life of the program to ensure the childrens' progress is consistent with improved diet and nutrition. Decisions about the type and quantity of food served to the children are made by WFP nutritionists who base their decisions on nutritional value and cultural appropriateness, among other factors.

Who do I contact at International Paper for more information?
For additional information about this program, please send an email to coins4kids@ipaper.com.