Download Sparrow Application here.
Sparrow Family Guidelines
1. A Sparrow is a child who is 17 years old or under, who is experiencing a life threatening or seriously disabling medical condition and whose family is facing financial hardship because of it.
2. A Sparrow Project is a kids-helping-kids learning activity. It is primarily NOT about the money kids and their communities raise. Rather, it is a cause to infuse compassion, courage, character and conscience into youth and school culture. Sparrow families should see themselves in giving roles as well. Your love, dignity and appreciation for the kids can make a lifelong impact on these heroic young helpers.
3. A Sparrow Club is a group of young people, elementary through college-age students, that do community service and fundraising on behalf of their “adopted” sparrow. The club is usually school-based and typically will adopt a new child each school year.
4. If your Sparrow Project is sponsored, $2,560 in “Sparrow Cash” is pledged by a business (or individuals & organizations) to be raised for your child by the school Sparrow Club. Students do community service hours to earn these funds for your child’s account. Additional funds may be raised, but you should not expect or presume this upon the Sparrow Club. Additional donations can be made to a particular Sparrow Account but must be written: “Sparrow for (child’s first name)”. If your Sparrow Project is un-sponsored, we cannot guarantee that $2,560 will be raised. However, we set that amount as a goal for the students to raise through their community service and fundraising efforts.
5. A Sparrow Account is a designated, tax-exempt fund that is available to help reimburse a Sparrow’s medical expenses and his/her family’s maintenance during their time of need. Medical expenses include, but are not limited to: medical bills, insurance premiums, deductibles and prescriptions. Family maintenance includes, but is not limited to, ancillary expenses for a child’s medical care such as: family travel costs, lodging, meals, as well as support for day-to-day expenses such as groceries (no tobacco or alcohol), housing, utilities, etc.
6. 100% of the principal dollars in designated Sparrow Accounts are reserved for a particular Sparrow and/or his/her family’s basic needs. Sparrow Clubs™ uses interest accrued from Sparrow Accounts for the general fund to help offset administrative costs.
7. Parents access their Sparrow Account with a Check Request Form. After filling out the form, copies of bills, receipts, mileage and expense log or cancelled checks for approved expenses should be attached. To receive advance monies from a Sparrow Account, send copies of bills, statements or an itemization of expected costs. Advanced funds should be followed by copies of receipts or cancelled checks. Disbursement checks are issued in the name of the Sparrow Parent who signs this Application unless payment is made directly to a service provider such as a hospital or physician.
8. Sparrow parents should use reasonable foresight and discretion in making Check Requests, keeping their Sparrow’s immediate and future medical care and well-being as top priority. However, it is recognized that relief of pressing day-to-day expenses from parents releases them to focus on and better care for their child as well.
9. Sparrow Clubs™ accepts only one Check Request per month for each Sparrow Family. Prior advances should be accounted for with documentation before new advances. We may deny or seek additional information for questionable Check Requests to preserve the spirit and integrity of kids-helping-kids funds.
10. Sparrow Clubs™ has sole discretion to determine if designated funds are no longer necessary for a particular child’s medical care or related family maintenance. In that case, any residual monies in a designated Sparrow Account will be used as new Sparrow Cash to sponsor service hours for other children in medical need. Prior to any such transfer, the Sparrow Family will be notified.
11. Sparrow Projects rarely extend beyond one semester or school year. Sparrow Account funds are usually expended before the Sparrow’s medical needs and family expenses are fully met. In that event the Sparrow Account will be closed unless determined by Sparrow Clubs. However, “Once a sparrow, always a sparrow”. Our Sparrow kids and families are always special to Sparrow Clubs. We encourage and invite your support as volunteers, spokespersons and mentors to other families.
12. If your family is enrolled or planning to enroll for Medicaid, SSI and/or any state-funded insurance program, please be advised that any funds, monetary gifts or checks directly given to you may jeopardize your status for any of the above programs. In this case, Sparrow Clubs™USA can disburse checks to your service providers upon request, rather than give funds directly to your family. However, it is not the responsibility of Sparrow Clubs USA to monitor or protect your family’s status with Medicaid, SSI or any state-funded insurance program.