Agency News
AAI Welcomes Home the First Child from Our Ethiopia Program!
Makenzie Ruth was brought home by her parents, Scott and Jennifer, on Friday, December 1. She was welcomed by her siblings, Caleb, 7, Abby, 4, and Brayden, 2, who were adopted domestically. “They all love to play with her and are taking turns feeding her,” says Jennifer.
Makenzie is adapting well to her new family and to Michigan weather. Even though Makenzie was greeted by a snowstorm, which was a severe change from the 85-90 degree weather she was used to in Ethiopia, Jennifer says that Makenzie “is a happy baby, loves to smile, and loves all the attention she is getting from everyone.”
Makenzie arrived home just in time for her birthday. She turned one on December 20, and was able to celebrate her first Christmas with her forever family a few days later.
Please look for a feature story about this family in February’s newsletter.
For more information about adopting from Ethiopia, visit our Ethiopia adoption web page.
AAI Announces Our New Adoption Program in Nepal
MORE big news for Adoption Associates, Inc.! AAI is thrilled to announce the opening of a new international adoption program—Nepal. This program is now open and ready to help Nepalese orphans find their forever families.
For more information, visit our Nepal Adoption page or contact Michelle at 616.667.0921.
Fundraising Update
AAI is pleased to announce that we have reached our fundraising goal of $69,000 for the Hearts Toward China project. Thank you to those who helped us achieve this goal through your financial contributions and prayers. Your generosity is greatly appreciated by AAI and by the children in the Xiangxi orphanage in China.
AAI would also like to thank one special donor for their generous gift that will allow us to purchase new infant car seats for all of our Michigan offices.
Watch for Our New Journals Program—Free to AAI’s Adoptive Families
Looking for a way to easily update your family and friends about your international adoption? We have the solution for you.
This January, AAI will be launching a site that will allow you to create your own adoption journal. You’ll be able to post entries and photos to your journal, and even include a calendar with important information, such as the dates you will be traveling to bring your child home. Your family and friends will be able to visit this site and receive all of the updates you wish to share about your adoption journey. Best of all, this service is free to AAI’s adoptive families.
Although the program isn’t quite ready to be launched yet, we expect it to be soon. Please check our web site often for updates in the coming weeks.
Golf Marathon “fore” Orphans
Are you a golfer, or do you have a soft spot in your heart for orphans? If so, we need your help. On Monday, May 14, we will be holding our first annual Golf Marathon to benefit orphans at The Meadows Golf Club in Allendale, Michigan. The Golf Marathon will include a team of golfers supported by pledges from family and friends on a per-hole basis. On the day of the marathon, the golfers will play over 100 holes of golf. Through their fundraising efforts, each golfer will endeavor to reach a sponsorship goal of $25 per hole, or $2,500 cumulative, for orphans. Proceeds will go to benefit orphans worldwide who lack the basic life necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing, that we often take for granted.
We are currently looking for golfers to play in the marathon and for people to pledge their support for the golfers.
If you are interested in golfing in this event, in sponsoring a golfer, or in receiving more information, please contact Thomas Gill at 616.667.0677.
Families Needed for Healthy Infants
Families are urgently needed for healthy infant boys and girls in Guatemala. We currently have six infants waiting to be linked to families, and we expect more referrals soon. Children with special needs and older children are also waiting. We especially encourage families who are home study and dossier ready to inquire.
For more information on adopting from Guatemala, visit our Guatemala adoption page, view some of the waiting children, or call AAI at 616.667.0921.
Begin the New Year by Learning Chinese!
This winter, we will not only teach our basic Mandarin class, but we will also offer classes designed for both parents and children to learn more about the Chinese language and culture. Visit the Chinese language page for details on classes in your area.
Begin the New Year by Learning Spanish
Beginning January 11, AAI will offer a Spanish class ideal for those planning to adopt from Guatemala in the Meeting Room of AAI’s Jenison office, located at 1352 Baldwin, Jenison, MI 49428. The class will be taught by Julio Juarez, a Grand Rapids Public School teacher and a native of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, on Thursday evenings (except for the 3rd Thursday of the month, when the class will be held on an alternate day) from 6:30 - 8:00pm. Through the course of this six-week class, students will learn basic Spanish and be able to ask questions about Guatemalan culture. Those who have previously attended an AAI Spanish class and would like to continue their Spanish studies are also welcome to attend.
To register, please contact Kim Batts by phone at 616.667.0921 or e-mail battsk@adoptassoc.com.
Help Support Our New Birth Parent Video
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 about planning adoption for their children? Many 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.
Did you know that it’s within your power to help give these women positive role models, and possibly help more women to plan adoption for their children? Visit our Birth Parent Video Project donation page to see how you can help.
