Every Child Deserves A Family

Statistics of children in the United States living without families show that 90% will experience some type of mental illness, and 40% will eventually turn to crime.  In other countries, children who are not adopted within a specific time frame are often put out into the world to fend for themselves.  These vulnerable youth can die of exposure and malnourishment.  They can end up victims of the street, or worse, casualties of horrific crimes such as sex-trafficking or child sacrifice.  Salvation International Adoption Charity dreams of a day when all children are safe.  Our vision is that there is no longer a need for foster homes or orphanages and every child is wrapped in the unconditional love of a forever family. Please join our effort to raise $140,000 by June 15 to assist 28 eligible couples and individuals adopt children from the United States, Bulgaria, China, Columbia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Philippines, Uganda, and Ukraine. 100% of the monies raised by Salvation International Adoption Charity is used to help build families through adoption. 

Founded in 2012 by DANIELLE FLEÉNOR, who also serves as Executive Director, the evolution of Salvation International Adoption Charity is literally a labor of love.  Danielle said, "A few years back, my husband and I looked into adopting a baby from China.  Realizing it cost $30,000, and we just didn't have $30,000 at the time, I ended up thinking if it was hard for me to find that kind of money, it must be hard for others too.  I thought, I could start a clothing line and the money I raised I will just give away.  And that is how Salvation International began.” 

Bringing together a group of friends including ARLENE BELL, Director of Donations, Marketing and Event Coordination, SANDY KORDICK, Director of Fundraising & Volunteer Coordinator, and STACY DEMPSEY, Director of Communications, Danielle worked with her team to create a series of fund raising events.  Fund raisers over the past two and half years have included rummage sales, comedy nights, fashion shows, walks, restaurant lunches and dinners, winery events, sporting events including "Batting for Babies," and concerts.  The $33,250 dollars raised to date has been donated to 17 families, adopting children from 8 countries including the United States, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Latvia, Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Uganda.  

One poignant adoption story involves 4 children from Ghana.  A loving United States family learned that they would be able to adopt from Ghana and keep a sibling group of three together.  This same US family also learned of an unrelated abandoned little girl on whom they could not turn their backs.  The little girl was 2 years and 8 months old.  She weighed 26.4 pounds.  She was born with cerebral palsy and suffered from a female genital mutilation that went horribly wrong and needed medical attention.  She was unable to sit independently, was non-verbal and unable to crawl.  Her name was Eve.  In Ghana, as well as other parts of the world, children with special needs rarely have access to medical care, are not educated and are frequently abandoned on the streets.  Little Eve lived in a large government orphanage, confined to a crib, and her future did not look promising.  Thanks to grant assistance from Salvation International, the sibling trio and Eve now have medical care, will be educated, and live with a family that loves them unconditionally.  

Another adoption story involves two babies named Hope.  The first baby was born in the United States.  When the adoptive parents received their new baby, they gave her the special name of Hope. They enjoyed five days with their new daughter Hope before her birth mother changed her mind and took the baby back for an older cousin to help raise instead.  When the US door closed for these adoptive parents, another one opened in Uganda, Africa.  A child born blind, with extreme developmental delays awaited.  The adoptive parents were unsure if they would be the right family for the child, but then, after reading the baby's file, they discovered her name meant Hope in Ugandan and adopted her. 

Grants range from $500 to $5000.00 per family depending on individual situations and funds available by this charitable organization.  All monies awarded by Salvation International are given directly to the adoption agency handling the family's adoption.  Grants are provided to assist adopting families with adoption agency fees and expenses such as medical costs for the adoptive children, travel expenses.  Myriads of other adoption-related costs can be daunting to prospective adopting parents seeking to provide quality home environments for children.  Grants are awarded on a case by case review, but contingent upon completed home studies. 

Salvation International awards grants twice a year in June and December.  April 1 is the deadline for June applications. October 1 is the December grant cycle deadline.  Families may apply once in an annual cycle and must be in the adoption process at the time of application.  Applicants must be US citizens residing in the United States.  Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they can provide stable home environments for the children, but significant financial obstacles stand in the way of completing the adoption process. 

Salvation International grants may be used for domestic or international, private or agency adoptions. For more information on the granting process please visit www.salvationinternational.org.

Arlene Bell
Event CoordinatorDirector of Donations and Marketing Arlene@salvationinternational.org
858.361.0595