So, you may be wondering, how does this whole adoption grant thing work?
From the donor side, the funds are going directly to Reece's Rainbow, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation. RR holds the funds for Martin's adoption grant, and when a family commits to adopt Martin, the funds will be available to help offset the costs of Martin's adoption.
Does this mean that the money goes directly to Martin's prospective family? Nope, it does not. Does this mean the grant is available to cover all the costs of his adoption? No to that one too.
First of all, there are initial costs that the family must cover themselves, such as those for obtaining a home study and paying initial agency fees. The grant money is not available for those costs. In order to adopt internationally a family needs to meet certain income requirements and needs to have the financial ability to support another child, including having private health insurance. They do not need to be rich, but cannot be so financially precarious that they cannot afford at least some of the costs of adoption.
Second, adoption grant funds do not go directly to the family. The funds are disbursed to the family's adoption agency, and only after the dossier (huge amounts of paperwork required for international adoption) has been submitted to Martin's birth country and Martin's adoptive family has received a travel date.
Grants are placed on the CHILD, not on the family. This means that, if a family initially commits to a child, but is not able to complete the adoption process, the funds remain with the child.
What happens to the money, if the child is not adopted? I cannot even think of this as a possibility for Martin (it would make me cry), but if a child cannot be adopted, if the child is sent to a closed institution or dies, then RR applies those funds to an adoption grant for another child or children.
For more information visit the New Family and Family Sponsorship pages at http://reecesrainbow.org/
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
More drops in the bucket
Martin's Christmas Angel Tree fund is up to $135! That means we only need to raise another $865 to meet the Angel Tree goal of $1,000. How cool is that?
When the $135 is added to the money already raised for Martin's adoption grant, the entire amount available is up to $2,337! Yay!
Keep those drops coming, and you prayer warriors out there, don't forget to keep praying, and everyone keep spreading the word. We could raise all the money in the world, and if Martin's family doesn't know he is there, it won't do us any good.
When the $135 is added to the money already raised for Martin's adoption grant, the entire amount available is up to $2,337! Yay!
Keep those drops coming, and you prayer warriors out there, don't forget to keep praying, and everyone keep spreading the word. We could raise all the money in the world, and if Martin's family doesn't know he is there, it won't do us any good.
Monday, November 8, 2010
A Drop in the Bucket: Two Boys, a Bucket of Coins and a Waiting Child
As promised, I am reporting back on how people are finding ways to fill Martin's Adoption Fund by adding their own drops to that big bucket.
This video shows how two boys gave the money they were saving for "something big" to Reece's Rainbow for Martin. While you are watching it, think about whether there are any drops you could add to Martin's bucket. Enjoy!
PS The boys only had $72 and change. Their Dad made up the rest.
PPS Why do you only see the typos after the video is created, downloaded and embedded?
This video shows how two boys gave the money they were saving for "something big" to Reece's Rainbow for Martin. While you are watching it, think about whether there are any drops you could add to Martin's bucket. Enjoy!
PS The boys only had $72 and change. Their Dad made up the rest.
PPS Why do you only see the typos after the video is created, downloaded and embedded?
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Did you pick me?
Some people are great writers. They know what to say to bring tears to your eyes or laughter to your lips. I read something today that did both, so I wanted to share it.
I think that most adoptive parents have faced the question answered by this Adoptive Mom in her blog: "Did you pick me?" I always heard it with the emphasis on the word "pick." But say it to yourself with the emphasis on the word "me". Funny what a difference that makes, isn't it?
Next time my little one asks that question, I am going to hear it differently, and when he comes running into the kitchen in 5 minutes looking for the rest of his Halloween Candy, I am going to squeeze him a little tighter than usual.
Take a few minutes to click on the link below, and you'll read something by a great writer with a heart for adoption.
http://www.oneblessednest.blogspot.com/2010/11/did-you-pick-me.html
I think that most adoptive parents have faced the question answered by this Adoptive Mom in her blog: "Did you pick me?" I always heard it with the emphasis on the word "pick." But say it to yourself with the emphasis on the word "me". Funny what a difference that makes, isn't it?
Next time my little one asks that question, I am going to hear it differently, and when he comes running into the kitchen in 5 minutes looking for the rest of his Halloween Candy, I am going to squeeze him a little tighter than usual.
Take a few minutes to click on the link below, and you'll read something by a great writer with a heart for adoption.
http://www.oneblessednest.blogspot.com/2010/11/did-you-pick-me.html
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Martin has $60 in his Angel Tree Fund!
Someone (or perhaps 2 someones) contibuted to Martin's Angel Tree Fund, and...they don't live in this house!
I decided to check the RR site while the kids were busy fighting...uh, I mean getting ready for bed. As I scrolled down the rows of children needing families I silently said a prayer for each of them. I stopped when I got to Martin and there it was, money in his Angel Tree Fund!
I am so excited! Someone else is going to get to see his face hanging from their Christmas Tree, and (more importantly) the financial barriers to Martin's adoption are $60 lower than they were just a few hours ago. Perhaps most importantly, I know that someone else out there is loving and praying for this sweet child.
I am going to update the fundraising "thermometer" on the side of the blog. Thank you, whoever your are. I am going to say a special prayer for you tonight. Did I say thank you yet?
I decided to check the RR site while the kids were busy fighting...uh, I mean getting ready for bed. As I scrolled down the rows of children needing families I silently said a prayer for each of them. I stopped when I got to Martin and there it was, money in his Angel Tree Fund!
I am so excited! Someone else is going to get to see his face hanging from their Christmas Tree, and (more importantly) the financial barriers to Martin's adoption are $60 lower than they were just a few hours ago. Perhaps most importantly, I know that someone else out there is loving and praying for this sweet child.
I am going to update the fundraising "thermometer" on the side of the blog. Thank you, whoever your are. I am going to say a special prayer for you tonight. Did I say thank you yet?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Martin's Christmas Warrior
The goal of the Christmas Angel Tree is to raise awareness of children who need families and to raise funds to create adoption grants for those children.
As part of this, RR has recruited Christmas Warriors for each child they are advocating for, and asks that the Christmas Warrior commit to raising at least $1,000 for their child's adoption fund.
You know I signed up to be Martin's Christmas Warrior. ;-)
Now, I have set a higher fund raising goal for Martin, because $1,000 is just a drop in the bucket compared to his adoption costs, but if we all put our little drops in the bucket, we can fill it and help to bring Martin home.
I know that somewhere out there, there is a family who meets all of his country's adoption requirements, and who has a heart for children with Down Syndrome. In all likelihood, that family is not rich. In this economy especially, that family may be hesitant to incur $30,000 in debt to bring Martin home. (Which of us wouldn't be?) They may be unable to obtain or carry that kind of debt. But, if we can get that bucket full of our little drops, then that huge financial barrier to Martin finding a family will disappear.
Over the next few days I am going to try to blog about some of the drops falling into Martin's bucket. Stay tuned!
To donate to Martin's Angel Tree fund, and get a picture ornament, click on the Christmas Tree Angel button on the blog or send a check to Reece's Rainbow. In either case, be sure to indicate that the donation is for Martin.
As part of this, RR has recruited Christmas Warriors for each child they are advocating for, and asks that the Christmas Warrior commit to raising at least $1,000 for their child's adoption fund.
You know I signed up to be Martin's Christmas Warrior. ;-)
Now, I have set a higher fund raising goal for Martin, because $1,000 is just a drop in the bucket compared to his adoption costs, but if we all put our little drops in the bucket, we can fill it and help to bring Martin home.
I know that somewhere out there, there is a family who meets all of his country's adoption requirements, and who has a heart for children with Down Syndrome. In all likelihood, that family is not rich. In this economy especially, that family may be hesitant to incur $30,000 in debt to bring Martin home. (Which of us wouldn't be?) They may be unable to obtain or carry that kind of debt. But, if we can get that bucket full of our little drops, then that huge financial barrier to Martin finding a family will disappear.
Over the next few days I am going to try to blog about some of the drops falling into Martin's bucket. Stay tuned!
To donate to Martin's Angel Tree fund, and get a picture ornament, click on the Christmas Tree Angel button on the blog or send a check to Reece's Rainbow. In either case, be sure to indicate that the donation is for Martin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)