"Upon our arrival in the United States, my nephew gave our new daughter
a red envelope with a cash gift welcoming her to our family. I could
think of nothing more appropriate than passing on this gift, and our
own, to the care of the children of China."
- A message to those in China who care for orphan children, sent
by Marybeth and Scott Forbes, parents of Collette Mei Li Forbes
Dear Friend:
In China, giving money to children in a red envelope at the
New Year is a family custom. And so it is becoming a custom
with our families who have children from China that at the
end of each year, a red envelope arrives to offer us the
opportunity to pass on a gift to an orphaned child in China.
Last year's Red Envelope Campaign raised $70,000 to begin
paying for flood relief, foster care, education expenses,
and medical care for children at small rural orphanages in
Hubei Province. When the Foundation for Chinese Orphanages
(FCO) began, it was our plea and your reply that resonated
in a faraway place for abandoned and orphaned children: now,
as a result of your generosity, a chorus of voices can be
heard. It includes orphanage directors, administrators, and,
for the first time, the children themselves. Here is a sample
of the letters we've received, of what you've accomplished
in the past year, and a glimmering of what it all means to
our children here at home . . .
- A message to those in China who care for orphan children, sent by Marybeth and Scott Forbes, parents of Collette Mei Li Forbes
In China, giving money to children in a red envelope at the New Year is a family custom. And so it is becoming a custom with our families who have children from China that at the end of each year, a red envelope arrives to offer us the opportunity to pass on a gift to an orphaned child in China.
Last year's Red Envelope Campaign raised $70,000 to begin paying for flood relief, foster care, education expenses, and medical care for children at small rural orphanages in Hubei Province. When the Foundation for Chinese Orphanages (FCO) began, it was our plea and your reply that resonated in a faraway place for abandoned and orphaned children: now, as a result of your generosity, a chorus of voices can be heard. It includes orphanage directors, administrators, and, for the first time, the children themselves. Here is a sample of the letters we've received, of what you've accomplished in the past year, and a glimmering of what it all means to our children here at home . . .
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"Although we are far away, I am very appreciative of your love and help. In a different language and country, you support us without words. . . . Having your care and love, I am full of confidence in the future."
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These are the words of 15-year-old Lijun Hu. Your donations have given her the chance to attend nursing school and become a skilled professional. Lijun has known much loss in her young life. When she was three years old, her father and mother died. Two years later, her grandmother died, forcing Lijun Hu to enter the Qichun County Social Welfare Institute in Hubei Province. She completed middle school, but additional education would have been out of the question. She's one of the many children, invisible to us, whose voice you heard "without words" and whose life has been forever changed as a result of your generosity.
Adoption officials in Hubei Province send us photographs and information about each of the children your donations are helping, as well as thank-you letters from orphanage staff. Clearly these officials take seriously their responsibility to report back to us, but the following message from the orphanage director in Zhuxi County shows the depth of feeling behind each official transaction:
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"The 20,000 yuan is like warm coal on a snowy day for a remote social institute that is in great need of funding. It was an inspiration for our 20 orphan children. It solved their difficulties in school, and paid their tuition and school expenses. Thank you." |
FCO donations have been used for dramatic medical interventions as well. At Yunmeng's orphanage, much-needed surgery was performed on Chenming Yn and Dang Lin, and at Xianning City Social Welfare Institute, Xueping Wang was able to have an operation to correct deformities of her mouth. A portion of the funds from this year's appeal will be used to support the proven surgical work of the China Pediatric Foundation - a group of dedicated medical pro-fessionals, organized by an FCC parent who lives in New York, Gena Shannahan. The China Pediatric Foundation provides free, high-quality surgical care to children in Chinese orphanages while partnering with local surgeons to share state-of-the-art techniques and supplies.
For the 33 orphan children affiliated with the Wuxie City Social Welfare Institute, FCO funds were used to support the foster families who do the important work of caring for orphans in their homes. The director of the institute wrote to assure FCO that its funds are being well spent:
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"All of the children are raised by families. The Institute pays the raising fee on schedule, sends the nutrient foods on time, and frequently checks the children's health status so that the orphan children can feel the family's warmth." |
Our own children feel the warmth of being with us, their forever families. Their early time in China made, for them and us, forever connections with the children of that nation who now live as orphans, as they once did.
Several of our daughters who are now old enough to understand this connection have taken the opportunity of the FCC Album to express their feelings in notes they wrote for last year's Red Envelope Campaign. These notes are translated into Chinese and sent to China to the delight of adoption officials and orphanage directors. The voices of our children are the latest and perhaps the most touching testament to the bridge we are building . . . and that continues to connect us all in ways we have just begun to realize.
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"Little children We are sorry that you are alone. We would like to Come and help Someday."
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With your donation, Lia's "someday" promise of help can happen today. Please strengthen this unique bond with China. Please give generously.
With very best regards,
| Shanti A. Fry
President Families with Children from China/New England |
Amy Klatzkin
Newsletter Editor, San Francisco Bay Area Families with Children from China |
P.S. Your contributions are tax deductible, and will be acknowledged with a receipt and with a certificate for your child's memory book.
Foundation for Chinese Orpahanages
Supported by Families with Children from China
8 Berkeley Street . Cambridge, MA 02138-3464 USA . Tel 617.876.3042 . Fax 617.441.5449
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