Wendy Leung takes child sponsorship to the next level
The sponsor-turned-volunteer tells us why she plans to sponsor “indefinitely” and what motivates her to go deeper with World Vision.
Written by Katie Hackett
on April 27, 2025
Wendy Leung of Burnaby, British Colombia has been a child sponsor since 2016.
Last year, as her sponsored child Sharlyn was turning 18, Wendy decided to run a community fundraiser so she could give her a special gift—a sort of “coming of age” present. In the end, it was so much more than that.
A providential gift
“The fundraiser had turned out to be a God-inspired lifesaver for my sponsored child, whose mother had developed a brain tumour,” says Wendy. “I received the message through World Vision while my fundraiser was in progress. Upon learning about my sponsored child’s familial crisis, I immediately doubled my fundraising goal to help. Thanks to God who provides everyone’s needs, my special gift fundraiser concluded successfully, exceeding my doubled goal!”
Wendy received a letter of gratitude from Sharlyn, including a photo with her mom. “It touched my heart to see in the photo that my sponsored child and her mother were okay, partly because of my special gift,” she says.
Wendy has plans to continue as a sponsor “indefinitely” and recently took her role to the next level, becoming a special events volunteer with World Vision.
This is the photo Sharlyn (right) sent to Wendy, with a letter of thanks for the special gift.
Motivated to volunteer out of joy and satisfaction
Her first volunteer opportunity was a concert in Abbottsford, BC, featuring Christian music artists MercyMe and the Newsboys in April 2024. There, she fielded questions about World Vision and helped enrol new child sponsors. Approximately 200 children were sponsored through that event.
The most memorable part of the experience? “Seeing hand after hand raised in response to the call for new sponsors,” says Wendy. “I thank God for each of these raised hands from someone moved by God to sponsor a new child.”
Wendy stands with other World Vision staff and volunteers at the MercyMe and Newsboys concert in Abbottsford, BC, in April 2024.
Wendy is a big believer in giving back. She’s passionate about helping to alleviate poverty for children around the world, and she devotes her time to World Vision because “it is world-renowned for its work in this field.” She uses her platform to speak about the cause—a platform that became bigger when she won the title “Ms. of Vancouver” for 2023-2024.
“Being a part of a global commission to transform children, families and communities from poverty to self-sufficiency, as well as having a long-term relationship with my sponsored child, brings me great joy and satisfaction,” she explains. “They enable me to fulfill my role as a global citizen.”