Attorney General's News Release

Jan. 26, 1999

Nationwide children's charity will change solicitations to resolve allegations about misleading ads

Jefferson City, Mo. — Children International, a well-known children's charity based in Kansas City, will make substantial changes in its advertising and in its letters to sponsors, under an agreement announced today by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon.

In addition to the advertising and letter changes, the agreement calls for Children International to donate $30,000 to a children's charity to be designated by Attorney General Nixon.

Children International solicits consumers nationwide to sponsor a child in a foreign country; the children to be sponsored often are represented as living in dire economic situations.

The assurance of voluntary compliance, which awaits approval by the Jackson County Circuit Court, addresses concerns that Children International used photographs and profiles of "poster" children in advertising that did not accurately depict the children, their biographical information or the conditions in which they live.

Nixon also was concerned about information sponsors received that represented that children would stop receiving benefits such as medication or have benefits delayed if sponsors were late with payments, discontinued their sponsorships or did not respond to appeals for additional contributions.

"It's undeniable that there are children all over the world who are in great need of charitable help," Nixon said."Their circumstances, however, should not be distorted or deliberately misconstrued to obtain donations. Likewise, the sponsor should not be told that the child being sponsored will have benefits eliminated or delayed if additional payments are not made, when this is not true."

The agreement requires Children International to stop any misleading solicitations. In addition, the charity will revise various sections of its sponsorship guidebook to advise sponsors that Children International will periodically ask them for other voluntary contributions in addition to their monthly sponsorship. Children International admits to no violation in the agreement.

Nixon said Children International also will be required for a two-year period to provide the Attorney General's Office with copies of its current audited financial statements, its current annual reports, and all copies of its current advertising and solicitations. Children International also will pay $10,000 to the Attorney General's Office to cover the cost of the investigation.

If the court finds that Children International violates the terms of the agreement, civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation will be assessed against the organization.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818