by Pan Atlantic Foundation

Pan Atlantic Foundation is a not for profit organization that specializes in creating high-quality high school exchange programs for non-US citizens in the United States. Our staff are professionals who each have a decade or more experience in the field of international exchange.  Our Staff are educators, administrators, parents, and former host parents who have international experience and a love for a program that truly changes lives.  We are united in our mission to make the world a better place for all people through educational and cultural exchange.

Pan Atlantic Foundation - the well-respected, nonprofit student exchange organization - is seeking volunteer host families to host exchange students for the 2020-'21 school year. Each year, Pan Atlantic Foundation provides over 350 exchange students, from many countries, the opportunity to study in local public high schools for either a five-month semester or a 10-month Academic High School Year program.

Host families make all of the difference: they influence a young adult’s life, change worldviews, and make dreams come true. When a host family is so willing to give, they have just as many rewarding and enriching experiences as the student.

Volunteer host families come from varied economic, religious, and racial backgrounds and include working parents, empty nesters, singles and single parents. They are to provide:

• Open communication, encouragement, patience, and sound advice
• A separate bed, which can be in a shared room with a host sibling of similar age and same gender, and a quiet place to study
• Three daily meals
• Local transportation (students are not permitted to drive while on the program)
• Treatment as a member of the family, which may include household rules, responsibilities, and privileges.

While host families are not compensated, the Internal Revenue Service has authorized families to claim a $50 per month charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns.

Students have their own accident and health insurance and bring their own spending money. Students are encouraged to participate in school-sponsored activities, community service and environmental programs. Pan Atlantic Foundation provides regular communication and support to both host families and students.

Students come with all different kinds of interests. We have students who enjoy sports, drama, movies, music, hiking, skiing. They all are excited to join your family. They want to help with chores and household responsibilities, as they are so grateful for this opportunity. They are proficient in English. To meet our students visit meetourstudents.org. 

For more information, visit http://www.iwanttohost.org, email or call Shannon Passon at shannonlpasson@gmail.com or 406-390-6432.

As your local area representative, my goal is to make this experience everything that you hoped it would be. My job is to help when issues arise and to be that connection between the family, student, and school. I am constantly checking in with my host families, students, and schools to make sure all is going well. I love my job, and I love making this an awesome experience for everyone.

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