Host A Chinese Orphan This Summer!

I just rec'd this from Cradle of Hope.  We adopted our daughter Bailey through Cradle of Hope in 2007.  What a wonderful opportunity this will be for the children who will be able to paricipate and what a blessing for the host families!!

Dear Friends:

We are thrilled to announce that the CCAA has agreed to allow Chinese orphans to participate in our Bridge of Hope hosting program this summer!  This will be the first time that Chinese children will travel to the US, attend day camp, have lots of summer fun and hopefully find a forever family.  The children will be ages 6 - 9, both boys and girls, in good health and their adoptions will be processed under the Special Needs system which means host families will avoid the 4+ year wait for a referral.  We are expecting to bring 30 - 40 Chinese children and 3 - 4 escorts in July for a three or four week visit.

While we have been organizing Bridge of Hope hosting programs for Russian children for the past 14 years, this will be our first program for Chinese children.  We're reaching out to Cradle families with Chinese children for help, as this is a huge undertaking in addition to the groups of Russian and Ukrainian children who will also be participating in Bridge of Hope this summer. Here are some of the ways you can help:

HOST A CHILD:  Families on the east coast and in the Chicago area who are interested in adopting an older child are needed. Families in other areas might be able to participate, depending on location.  Host families will need a current homestudy approving them to adopt an older child.  For more information about being a host family, please contact Bridge of Hope director Patrice Gancie at 301-587-4400, ext 207 or pgancie@cradlehope.org.

BE A DONOR: During our annual phone-a-thon in November, we asked Cradle families to send a donation for our Bridge of Hope program. Since we just learned that we can expand the program to include Chinese children, we must raise another $150,000.  If you haven't yet sent a donation or if you can send more, we could really use your support.  Could you organize a fundraising event in your area?  Do you know any businesses or individuals who could underwrite some travel costs or sponsor a child or two?

RECRUIT HOST FAMILIES: Help us spread the word in your community about the need for families to host and adopt older Chinese orphans.  Make an announcement at your church or synagogue, send an email to your friends and neighbors, or share information through your local chapter of Families with Children from China (FCC).

HOST ESCORTS: If you are not planning to expand your family but would like to be involved, you could host several escorts in your home for a few days.  Escorts are interested to learn about American family life, schools, and health care systems and will also want to do some sightseeing and shopping.  This could be a great opportunity for your Chinese child to learn more about his or her homeland.

VOLUNTEER:  We'll need help with planning logistics, organizing pool parties or BBQs, recruiting volunteer translators, identifying day camps who will accept non-English speaking children, making goodie bags for arrival, transporting children and/or escorts, and lots of other tasks.  Tell us how you can help and we'll put you to work!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Linda Perilstein

Executive Director

Cradle of Hope Adoption Center

301-587-4400