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Families with Children From
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Orphanage Assistance News These reports are from the organizations that currently receive funds directly from FCC N. California through our fundraising efforts. FCC N. Calif. funds were directed toward these specific projects and charities by the board of directors because of the high quality of their work in China's orphanages, and their ability to report those activities to us in clear and reportable ways. **A note about names: In order to protect the identity of the children under their care, many charitable organizations working in China choose an English name to use when writing to the child's sponsors. This is not done in order to "Anglicize" the children, but is done for confidentiality's sake.** Altrusa International Foundation/Amity Foundation Altrusa & Amity specifically work in Jiangxi Province, from which a large number of our member families have adopted. The following Amity and Altrusa projects were originally selected by the participants in the Big Kids' Bake Sale and Red Bracelet Sale at the 2008 Between Two New Years party; we have continued our sponsorship each year since, using funds raised by the Big Kids' Bake Sale and through donations from our members. We are now sponsoring "George", a 9-month-old baby boy with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. His foster family reports that he is a good eater and sleeps soundly. He likes to play with his foster mother and pays attention to people's conversations. Unlike here in the U.S., public schools are not free in China. Therefore, without a sponsor, many children in orphanages do not receive even a high school education. FCC - N. Calif. currently sponsors the schooling of a 12-year-old boy. "Freddie" will enter the Sixth Grade in the fall, and lives with a foster family. We are also sponsoring a "Hugging Granny" through the Amity Foundation. Hugging Grannies spend lots of time with special needs children who are unable to live in foster homes, helping them learn to speak, assisting with physical therapy and rehabilitation, and providing a consistent, nurturing presence for the children with whom they work. In our most recent report, we learned that "Grandma Liu administers physical therapy to and generally cares for the disabled children at the Institute. On the day we visited, Grandma Liu was playing with "Dana" as a reward for being cooperative during physical therapy. Thanks to therapy with Grandma Liu, "Dana" can now walk with a little bit of support. She also walks more steadily than before. Extroverted and cheerful, "Dana" can have simple conversations with others and likes to play with her friends. She likes Grandma Liu best of the three Grandmas and is always trying to get Grandma Liu to play with her." FCC - N. California is pleased to continue sponsoring two beds in Love Without Boundaries' Anhui Cleft Healing Home (ACHH). The ACHH celebrated its two year anniversary in March 2010. Our two sponsored beds are currently occupied by Fenn and Diana. Fenn was born with multiple special needs including intestinal atresia, a heart defect, and cleft lip and palate. His intestinal atresia and cleft lip have been repaired, and he is working hard at learning to walk and talk. Little Fenn, though almost 18 months old, weighs just over 15 lbs. He needs lots of love and care from the Healing Home staff, and gives lots of smiles in return.
Little Diana is a sweet 7-month-old who has become very attached to her caregivers. With their patient feedings and round-the-clock care, Diana has gained nearly 4 lbs. since entering the Cleft Healing Home! Soon she will be able to have surgery.
To donate directly to Love Without Boundaries to help sponsor surgery for Diana or any other child, go here.
The Summer of 2010 is Half The Sky's first "Art in Our Hearts" fundraiser.
For more information, visit their website or contact artwork@halfthesky.org.
updated on July 16, 2010 For more information about these projects, please contact Milinda Lommer, Orphanage Support Coordinator (FCC - N. California). |
