Agency News
You’re Invited to a Special International Adoption Meeting
November is National Adoption Awareness Month and we’re hosting a special meeting to celebrate! Come join AAI staff for an international adoption information meeting on November 7 at 7pm at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids in the Gainey Conference Center. You’ll learn about the cultures of China, Russia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Haiti by sampling ethnic cuisine, exploring cultural artifacts, interacting with knowledgeable AAI caseworkers, meeting families with children home, and be informed about adopting from these countries in the process.
Best of all, your attendance at this meeting waives your $350 application fee.
Please RSVP to 616.667.0921
Help Support Our New Birth Parent Video Project
Did you know that less than 2% of women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy choose adoption? This number sounds startling, but if you think about it, how many birth parents do you know who speak positively, or even at all, about planning adoption for their children? Many pregnant women choose single parenting or abortion instead of adoption simply because they do not have role models in their lives who speak positively about their adoption decision.
In order to help educate prospective birth parents and their families about the loving decision of adoption, we produced a birth parent video five years ago entitled No Regrets. This video, which is one of our principle marketing tools and educational services for birth parents, is now very outdated.
Therefore, AAI is currently in the process of producing a new video for prospective birth parents that will allow them to hear from women who once planned adoption and feel very positive about their decision. This video will finally give prospective birth mothers the opportunity to connect with other women who were once in a situation similar to the one they are now facing. In addition to helping prospective birth mothers, AAI also plans to make the video available to other adoption agencies and to distribute it nationwide to crisis pregnancy centers, Planned Parenthoods, schools, churches, welfare agencies, and other youth-serving groups.
Your donation would be an incredible blessing to prospective birth parents and their families across the country. Would you prayerfully consider donating to this project?
Please call Tom Gill at 616.667.0677 for more information.
Shop, Earn, Share!
Have you been looking for a way to give back to the community, but the time never seems right, or your financial situation isn’t such that you can afford to give? What if you could support an organization just through your routine shopping at your local grocery store? We have an opportunity for you to do just that! Adoption Associates, Inc. (AAI) is part of the Meijer Community Rewards program, which means that every time you shop at Meijer, you can earn up to 4% on qualified purchases for AAI. The program is designed to benefit non-profit organizations and is a unique opportunity for AAI to raise funds to support orphanages and programs in China, Russia, Guatemala, Haiti, and Ethiopia.
We are asking for the support of our adoptive families, friends, and staff. Participating in the Meijer Community Rewards program is free and will never cost you more than the time it takes you to sign up. You can sign up at http://meijer.com/rewards, or by calling 1-800-962-7011. You can also pick up an application at any local Meijer store.
Important! You will be asked for a six-digit code number. AAI’s code number is 449515.
Like you, hundreds of adoptive families are faithful and committed to the placement of children. We appreciate your support!
The Hearts Toward China Team Returns!
While in China, the volunteers were able to successfully renovate the seventh floor of the orphanage. Among other construction feats, the team was able to sand and paint a 200 foot hallway with two coats of paint in one day. The team also spent a lot of their time painting the 17 rooms, cleaning, and installing flooring in the orphanage. They even took the children to a local chicken restaurant where the children were perplexed by American oddities such as fizzy pop, straws, and ketchup. The Hearts Toward China group, though, didn’t escape without having their own interesting cultural experiences. Sampling a dish of bee larvae early in the trip is near the top of their list of adventures.
To read more about the Hearts Toward China trip and to see the team’s pictures, please visit http://heartstowardchina.blogspot.com or watch for next month’s newsletter which will include a feature story about this trip.
Experience Your Child’s Heritage This Holiday Season at Frederick Meijer Gardens
Are you looking for a fun way to celebrate your child’s unique heritage during the holiday season? If so, visit Frederick Meijer Gardens’ annual exhibit: Christmas and Holiday Traditions around the World.
Frederick Meijer Gardens will kick off the exhibit with a “grand tree-lighting ceremony” on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 from 5-9pm. The official tree-lighting will take place at 6:30pm and will be followed by a performance from the Embellish Hand Bell Ensemble from 7-8pm. Carriage rides will be available from 5:30-8:45pm, but a reservation is required. There will be special treats and activities for families and children from 6-8pm.
Go to http://www.meijergardens.org/calendar/event.php?id=103 for information on how to reserve your carriage ride.
Discover Your Grandchild’s Heritage through a Cruise Tour
Ship ahoy, mates! We are offering special tours for grandparents by adoption as well as for folks with an interest in adoption that are intrigued by China or Russia. See below for details and information on how to contact us if you would like to learn more.
China/Yangtze River Cruise Tour
AAI is sponsoring this 15-day cruise which features major attractions such as a visit to China’s Great Wall, a cruise of the Yangtze River where you’ll experience the massive Three Gorges Dam Project, an outing to see the Terra Cotta Army, and a trip to the cities of Beijing and Shanghai.
The trip will be hosted by Dick Van Deelen, founder of Adoption Associates, Inc., and his wife, Jan.
When: May of 2007
Tour Cost: Approximately $2,500 - $3,000 (including airfare from Los Angeles)
Russian Waterway 2007
AAI is once again sponsoring this wonderful, relaxing, scenic and historic cruise/tour through the Russian waterways.
This 12-day cruise features the major attractions of Moscow and St. Petersburg and includes six days of viewing the beautiful interior of Russia from a river cruise ship during the middle of the trip. An orphanage visit and a stop-over in Prague are included.
The trip will be hosted by Fred Groen, manager of international program development, and his wife, Bev.
When: July 18-29, 2007
Tour Cost: Prices start at $1,699. Airfare is additional. However, there is an early booking discount of up to $200 per person if the cruise is booked before November 30, 2006.
For more information please contact Travel Intrigue by phone at 616.667.1756 or by e-mail at krikke@travel-intrigue.com.
