My friends Apryl and Laura over at the Antares Foundation are amazing women. They give of their time and love and money to selflessly help kids still in orphanages in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan, where I adopted Michael. When I was adopting him they got in touch and let me know they had met him, he was a great kid, and even sent photos taken when they visited. They spent time in Petropavlovsk this summer, seeing the kids in the orphanages there, strengthening ties with the local Antares folks, and exploring more ways to help.
The sad reality is that most older kids in orphanages never get adopted. When they leave the orphanage, it's hard for them to get work or go to school, without life skills or family support. Many turn to crime, feeling hopeless.
Antares has a wonderful new project, to help older kids transition to life outside the orphanage. It is SO needed!
I would like to help, but with my money so limited right now, since I'm not working, it's difficult. However, my friend Hallie over at Wonderful World of Weiners just did a very successful fundraiser for an organ donor awareness charity by asking folks to donate prizes, then holding a raffle. She has a large readership, though, larger than mine. People donated a variety of things, like handmaid jewelry, gift cards to stores, tickets to sporting events, etc. Not all donations were huge, but she raised over $5,000 in raffle tickets! I donated a copy of Adopting Alesia, my book.
So I am throwing this out there to y'all: is anyone willing to donate a prize, which can be raffled off to help the Antares Foundation with the project to help the orphanage graduates? I am happy for you to send it to me and I will pay the shipping costs to get it to the raffle winner. The donation to Antares is tax deductible. You can use Paypal or a credit card, or just send them a check. It's all on their website.
Email me if you're willing to help, [email protected]. Thanks!
