A bunch of small stuff going so I figured I'd throw them all together in one post. So please read on....
1.) Prensa Libre yesterday ran a story about he Human Rights office requesting a suspension of adoptions. If you read the comments on our 'Update on In process Designation" thread. You will find alll we know about it. I amnot sure if this is meant to just not have anything to occur on in prcoess cases until Jan 1, if it is an attempt to prevent any new cases from starting, or exactly what it means. my OPINION is that it is irrelevant and this is nothing more than tehe PDH going after some media attention. So don't worry about this one to much. Cick here for the story.
2.) Calendars have shipped and arriving. We apoogize for the fact that we don't have tracking numbers easily available. If you received a confirmation of your order, don't worry they are coming. I've answered many inquiries and have yet to find one where the ordered calendars were not on hte ship list.
3.) Do Good UPDATE - I sent out our first payment for feeding operations yesterday. Since our launch, sales of Do Good items have paid for 10,000 meals for orphans in Guatemala!!!!
4.) The BBC News ran a few adoption stories. I think this one is especially important as it shows pictures of what the private adoption system provides so far as "institutional" care is concerned. This is important for the power barons to remember when they pass laws that give all power and authority to the government. Click here for the story.
5.) After tonight, I will be out of pocket until Christmas. So if you e-mail me (Kevin) and get no reply, it's becaue I have no e-mail access.
6.) FTGA sent me their Holiday Giving Update. As usual, FTGA families and adoptive families throughout the US stepped up to take part once again in the FTGA Holiday Giving Back Project with Behrhorst Partners for Development. To date, families from 17 states have participated raising $7300. Here are the sponsorships to date:
* Family gardens for 24 families
* Chicken farms for 22 families
* Fruit farms for 56 families
* Sponsorship for 60 women to join an embroidery cooperative
All told to date, 162 rural Guatemalan families will be given to opportunity to increase their ability to create family income by these sponsorships. Thanks for your continued support. If you would like to participate in the Holiday Giving Back Project, please visit www.ftga.net to learn more.
Posted by Kevin at December 18, 2007 01:48 PM"3.) Do Good UPDATE - I sent out our first payment for feeding operations yesterday. Since our launch, sales of Do Good items have paid for 10,000 meals for orphans in Guatemala!!!!"
Kelly & Kevin, this is FABULOUS!!!! great job!!
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa at December 18, 2007 03:01 PM10.000 meals! Wow, that's fantastic!
Lizzie
Proud Mama to Anarosa since 5-26-04
Waiting for Migdalia
Always so humbled and thankful for your efforts to improve Guatemala. Thank you for all you do & for passing along info on how the rest of us can help!
And Thank you to all those families that have participated already!
The calendars are amazing!!!!!! Great Job - I love it.
Melissa
Congratulations on the great success of your feeding program. 10,000 meals just makes me smile all day.
We sent a contribution to Behrhorst Partners through FTGA as a Christmas gift for our son and daughter-in-law. We were thrilled to participate in this program for the second year. Unfortunately when we received the thank-you card from Behrhorst to give to our children for Christmas it was a UNICEF card. We are horrified that part of our donation will certainly go to UNICEF to pay for these cards. I have emailed FTGA and will do the same for Behrhorst
I have addressed the issue with Behrhorst using the cards from UNICEF. Please know that 100% of your donation in the Holiday Giving Back Project through BPD and FTGA goes directly to the project you choose to sponsor and not to any other use. The funds are restricted giving funds. They do not pay for the card sent to you from BPD.
I can say that the cards you get related specifically to the sponsorship choice you make are not UNICEF cards as I make those cards specific to the donation type. FTGA provides those cards.
I know it "hurts" to see people support UNICEF, but I know that I have had to accept that very well meaning people are simply uneducated on their stance on international adoption. I can't hold that against them. I too was uneducated until it became personal to me with our son's adoption.
I can take every opportunity given to educate them on the stance of UNICEF. Thanks for sharing this information so that I could address this with BPD.
Sonya, donations coordinator for Friends Through Guatemalan Adoption www.ftga.net
Posted by: Sonya at December 19, 2007 10:44 PMWow, Sonya, thanks for clearing that up!!
Posted by: Melanie at December 20, 2007 10:43 AMAt Christmas and always, I am so grateful for all that you do.
(PS, I got a shirt, and told everyone I know to get one too!!)
Posted by: Sarah at December 20, 2007 07:49 PM