The first answer that comes to mind is to help someone less fortunate receive an education and, for corporations, to fulfill corporate social responsibility requirements.  These are very good reasons to sponsor a Sunrise student however, there are so many others! 

Since the beginning of Shanghai Sunrise, more than 450 sponsors have helped over 1,300 students receive an education; something they may not otherwise have been afforded.  Some of these sponsors have continued their sponsorship through University and others have forged life-long relationships with their student and their student's family. 

Long-time sponsors Connie & Paul Ferris sponsor two Sunrise students, but are particularly close to Bo Wenya, or Sarah, as she's known to Connie and Paul.  The Ferris's began sponsoring Sarah, who is now 15 years old, when she was a shy, 8 year-old girl.  According to Connie, the relationship was one that was amazing from the start.  Connie said that Sarah is like the daughter she never had.  They have long conversations together and Sarah, with the help of Connie and Paul, has blossomed into a lovely young lady.  She enjoys school and speaks impeccable English. 

When Sarah was asked what her Sunrise sponsorship has meant to her she said, " It means I can go to school with other students and can attend high school ".  She also said that she knows that an important part of her sponsorship is the financial help it has given her and her family however, to her it has also given hope.  Sarah also said she knows how lucky she was to be given the Sunrise sponsorship and that she appreciates Sunrise and her sponsors very much.