Janet Aley and Save the Children's former President and CEO, Carolyn Miles.

Four Decades of Dedication

A glimpse into the lives of children living in extreme poverty in the United States became the motivation behind Janet Aley's 44-year commitment as a child sponsor with Save the Children.

Janet was attending Black Mountain College in North Carolina when she discovered areas of the country that were devastated by poverty. For the first time she looked into the eyes of hopeless children, who had no access to education or healthcare, and little chance at happy futures. Janet knew at that moment she was destined to be a part of the change these children needed, and she would do anything in her power to make a difference in their lives.

Years passed, and Janet settled down with a family of her own, but she never forgot her promise. In 1971 she discovered Save the Children's Child Sponsorship program. Without hesitation, Janet signed up to sponsor her first child, a little Navajo girl named Evelyn. She shared her sponsorship with her 8-year-old son, Jon, as a Christmas gift.

Evelyn's story captured Janet's heart. "It's hard for me to put into words the emotions I felt when reading Evelyn's story. She was an innocent little girl born into unfair circumstances; she was struggling to survive."

Following her commitment to Evelyn, she was compelled to help more kids in this country live happy and healthy lives. She vowed to be a child sponsor for as long as she was able, and has remained true to that promise for 44 years, sponsoring a total of 12 children.

"I have watched these 12 children grow up, and I got to be a part of their lives and their successes. I know I have made a positive difference in their lives, and that makes my 44 years of commitment as a sponsor worth it."

She has left a lasting impression on the 12 children she has sponsored, and also on Save the Children's mission of creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States.