Visiting high school students are desperately seeking families with whom to stay during their time abroad. The students, between the ages of 15 and 18, speak English, have their own spending money and carry accident and health insurance, according to Pacific Intercultural Exchange President John Doty.

The non-profit educational organization has semester-length and year-long programs, and representatives who match students with host families by finding common interests and lifestyles through an informal in-home meeting. Prospective host families are able to review student applications and select the perfect match.

Host families become eligible for a monthly charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns for each month they host a sponsored student.

For the upcoming pro-grams, the agency has students from Germany, Russia, Venezuela, Argentina, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, Hungary, Korea, Mexico, Australia, China and many other countries and is also participating in two special government-funded programs to bring scholarship students to the U.S. from the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union as well as predominantly Islamic countries such as Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Morocco, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar.

Pacific Intercultural Exchange has sponsored more than 25,000 students from 45 countries since its founding in 1975. It is designated by the United States Department of State and is certified by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.

Families are encouraged to contact the program immediately in order to allow time for students and hosts to connect before they actually meet. Families interested in learning more about student exchange or arranging a meeting with a community representative may call toll-free: 1-866-546-1402. The agency also has travel/study program opportunities available for American high school students as well as possibilities for community volunteers to assist and work with area host families, students and schools.