Important Letter from Our CEO!
Dear Friends,
The Christmas season is finally upon us. This year has given us so much to be thankful for, and I am writing to first thank you for your commitment to caring for orphaned and vulnerable children.
As 2014 draws to a close, there are several critical areas of need where you can have an immediate impact on the life of a child. I am writing to ask that you prayerfully consider joining with America World to help bless a child this Christmas season.
I was recently contacted by a wonderful supporter of our ministry who has pledged to match all donations to America World up to $60,000! This means that every dollar you give to support our ministry to orphaned and vulnerable children will be DOUBLED. Because of this generous matching gift, we have the opportunity to raise $120,000 to care for God’s children. But we need your help!
Here are just two ways that you can give a child in need the gift of hope.
Ethiopia Transition Home
America World operates 2 Transition Homes in Ethiopia that provide around-the-clock care for children waiting on their families. These homes have the capacity to care for 100 children at a time. The majority of the children adopted from Ethiopia through America World were cared for in one of these homes, and we’ve been blessed to see many children brought back from the brink of death because of the care provided by the nannies and physicians who work there.
It costs America World $74,600 per year to rent the two homes, meaning that a gift of as little as $746 can put a roof over a child’s head for one year! Will you consider making a gift to support this life-saving resource?
As an added incentive, I am excited to announce that artist and America World adoptive mom, Jorgeanne Carpenter, has agreed to create special tiles that will come together to create a beautiful mural to hang on the wall of the Transition Home. Each tile is hand-painted and will include your family’s name, your child’s name, and the date your child was adopted. The mural will be assembled by members of our ACT Missions Teams, creating a beautiful piece of art honoring the children who have found their forever families and giving hope to the children in the Transition Home who are still waiting.
We are asking for a donation of just $100 for a tile, and all proceeds will go toward the Transition Home rent. This is a wonderful Christmas gift to give your family or friends who have adopted. To request a tile, simply make a General Donation and include the family’s name, the child’s name, and the child’s date of adoption in the Notes section.
China Hosting Program
For the first time ever, in the spring of 2015, America World is bringing 10 older, adoptable children from China to the United States on a short-term hosting trip!!! Our Welcoming Angels hosting program has been incredibly successful in uniting children with their forever families, as over 90% of children hosted to date have been adopted!
The children who participate in the program have the opportunity to live with a host family in experience life in the United States. The goal for these trips is to advocate for the adoption of these precious children. You can be a part of bringing a child home by hosting or supporting a child’s trip.
It costs $4,000 to bring one child over from China or $40,000 for all 10 children! You can support a child by either giving toward their entire trip cost, or by giving to a portion of the cost. For example, a $100 donation will pay for a child’s passport. A $150 donation pays for the required medical checkups prior to travel. $450 pays for the child’s visa, and $2,200 pays for the child’s airfare. Will you join us in giving these children the gift of hope and a family this Christmas season?
To support a child, simply make a donation to the Orphan’s Ticket Home fund and include “China Hosting Support†in the Notes section.
Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 10, which is America World’s Day of Hope. Throughout the day, current and former members of the America World team will be calling families to as a way of reconnecting in honor of our 20th anniversary. With over 4,000 completed adoptions, we won’t be able to talk to everyone in just one day, but we are going to do our best to talk to as many families as possible on Wednesday with a goal of speaking to all of you in 2015. So, keep your phone near as you may be receiving a call from the Family Coordinator who first shared the exciting news that you’d been matched with a child! If you are interested in supporting America World and helping us reach our $120,000 goal, our team will be happy to help you during the call.
GIVE HERE to help America World provide hope to children this Christmas!
Blessings,
Brian Luwis, Founder and CEO