Jordin Sparks meets with SOS chidlren, staff, friends and neighbors at SOS Children's Villages - Coconut Creek in Florida

February 12, 2010: "Jordin, Jordin…" chanted more than 70 SOS children holding a banner that read "Welcome, Jordin!" The sign, spanning the street at the end of a cul-de-sac in Coconut Creek, Florida, greeted pop sensation Jordin Sparks as her bus, carrying staff and family, rounded the bend into SOS Children's Villages-Florida.

Twenty-year-old singer, songwriter, and Grammy Award nominee Jordin Sparks leaped to fame as an American Idol winner at age 17. At about the same time, she learned about SOS from a family member who works for Children's Villages - USA. She has been a huge supporter of SOS ever since, helping to raise funds for SOS-Coconut Creek in Florida as well as for SOS's recent efforts to save children in Haiti.

Jordin Sparks meets with SOS chidlren, staff, friends and neighbors at SOS Children's Villages - Coconut Creek in Florida

SOS Children's Villages is a worldwide charity that provides family-based care for orphaned and abandoned children in 132 countries, including the United States.

A Beautiful, Sunny Florida Day

On Saturday, February 6th the children at SOS-Coconut Creek, located near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, were thrilled to receive a visit from Jordin Sparks.

Jordin Sparks meets with SOS chidlren, staff, friends and neighbors at SOS Children's Villages - Coconut Creek in Florida

The SOS children were giddy with excitement as Jordin exited the bus. Facing her audience members, who were sitting on metal risers provided by the city, she stood under a shade tree with a microphone, taking questions from the children.

Jordin was attentive to every query. Questions ranged from her American Idol experience to her singing career to her hair and her birthday. When several of the children raised their hands to say they knew how to sing, she invited them to come forward and perform for the crowd. "You were awesome!" she told each one, hugging them.

Inspiring Children

Jordin Sparks meets with SOS chidlren, staff, friends and neighbors at SOS Children's Villages - Coconut Creek in Florida

Jordin told her audience that they could achieve whatever they wished in life as long as they worked hard at it.

The children sang hit songs "Tattoo" and "No Air" with Jordin. Then she and her entourage toured an SOS family home whose five siblings proudly showed off their rooms.

Before leaving the SOS Children's Village, the children had their photo taken with Jordin. Her group distributed white teddy bears. "Thank you so much for having me, I had so much fun!" she exclaimed.