iGive to AAI!

We are at the height of holiday shopping season! Did you know that if you do your shopping through www.igive.com up to 26% (but usually 1-5%) of your total is donated to AAI's humanitarian projects? It's true! These donations can add up to make a difference in countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda.

If you aren't already a member and sign up now (adding a button to your toolbar) AAI will get $5 for your membership! If you share the link with a friend and that friend signs up, another $5 for AAI humanitarian projects! Click HERE to learn more about the 1 Million Buttons for Change campaign. The campaign goes through January 9th, 2012.

Thank you to all who remember to give back at this time of year.

National Adoption Month CHALLENGE Results

During the month of November we challenged everybody in the AAI family to think of ways they could (1) promote adoption and (2) give back to organizations that advocate for the orphaned child. We are pleased to share that many AAI families stepped up to the plate with wonderful results! Earlier this month we shared some of your great ideas. Here are some others.

*Bryana and Jodi Slaback shared, "On Nov. 6 I presented the Operation Christmas Child project through Samaritan's Purse to my church. It is going well and shoe boxes with gifts for needy children around the world are already coming in. We will take our two adopted boys (Guatemala and Ethiopia) shopping to fill a shoe box each for boys their age. They love it and it raises awareness of needs around the world and challenges them to give out of their own wishes of what they would like to receive themselves."

*Tiffany Bryner made a display at the public library in Sitka, Alaska where she is employed.

*An AAI family shared, "Every time I shop at Costco I purchase a can of formula to take with us..(I shop there a lot with my brood). I have asked and encouraged my friends to do the same."

*AAI Counselor Marilyn Weaver took part in an adoption conference at a church in the Tri Cities on November 4. She spoke in a breakout session on homestudies. The theme she chose was “The Homestudy is the Heart of Adoption.” She referred to AAI and passed out information about our agency.

*Carol Gilliom shared, "Every year, including this year in October, my daughter Anna Gilliom (16 years old now), and I talk with all 80 students in the 7th grade at our local school about adoption. We talk about how Anna came from India as an infant, what adoption means to our family, and about Indian culture. We give our talk in the Social Studies classes during their unit on India."

*An AAI parent shared, "I am also going to a third grade class where some of my friends children go and I am speaking on adoption. The class is going to ask parents to donate needed items for our upcoming trip."
*Kris Adam helped raise funds for plane tickets, etc, for a family in her church that is adopting 3 children from Ethiopia. Everything she sells until mid Dec. goes directly to their fees. Kris states, "I am making necklace charms and ornaments. I know it won't be much, but every drop in the bucket helps!"

*Gina MacConnell purchased 100 devotionals about adoptions from Show Hope and has been handing them out to anyone who shows interested in adoption.

*One AAI Parent shared, "We are hosting a Adoption Info Meeting and a Help Us Fill Our Suitcase Party before we leave for our court trip in December. My plan is to have empty suitcases at our front door as our guests arrive(I have sent out a list of the things that AAI in Ethiopia needs). I am going to show the Cry of the Orphan video and have informational materials available."

*Several AAI families ate very simply the week before Thanksgiving, then donating the money they saved on food to various programs at AAI.

Thanks to ALL who participated this year, and shared your activities with us!

AAI Family Quilt--A Longstanding Tradition

The AAI Family Quilt is coming along nicely! If you have made a donation to AAI and would like to see your name on a leaf, star, butterfly, or other items that will adorn the quilt, just contact us!

Did you know that fundraising quilts are a longstanding tradition in the United States? Recently, an AAI supporter wrote a blog post about these quilts, and featured the AAI Family Quilt as example. You can read the entire (very interesting) blog post HERE.

AAI Volunteer trip -- Join us in February!!

2012 Short-term Volunteer Trip
2/26/12--3/8/12

Chris Little and Susan Poisson-Dollar, AAI Board President and former AAI Director of Development respectively,  will be leading a short-term volunteer trip to Ethiopia for a maximum of 14 participants.  The dates for this year’s trip are February 26^th – March 8^th, 2012.  Chris and Susan have each visited Ethiopia numerous times and also have significant experience hosting volunteer groups both in the U.S. and Ethiopia.  They enjoy sharing their love for and knowledge of their “adopted” country with new people.   We had a wonderful experience in November of 2010 and you can read more about it at this link.

The land cost for the trip is $1300 and includes airport pick-up in Addis, lodging (single occupancy, discount for sharing), transportation and some meals in Addis as well as a donation to Adoption Advocates International’s humanitarian projects in the country.  Flight costs will depend on the participant’s home city but are currently ranging between $1400-1700 round trip from most parts of the country.  Participants will have the option of joining either of the group leaders on their flights or of arranging one independently.  Depending on the interests of the group, excursions outside of Addis can be arranged and the travel agent we are working with can also help organize add-on tours to other parts of Ethiopia. 

All participants will be expected to get a criminal background check prior to the trip or submit one received in the last two years.  They will also be asked to carry supplies for AAI’s partner orphanages and other nonprofits as well as to make a commitment to do some fundraising prior to or after the trip. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required by January 15, 2012 to secure a spot on the trip and participants are also required to have health insurance and to purchase a travel insurance plan (generally very inexpensive).  Please contact Susan Poisson-Dollar for more details or to reserve your spot on the trip.   

There will also be opportunities to tutor children, teach English, work at our facility for developmentally-delayed children (Opportunity House), and to experience Ethiopian traditions by visiting typical families.  We may be asked to paint rooms and do other similar projects at partner orphanages.   Excursions will include trips to shop for fairly-traded handicrafts, visits to  other nonprofit projects serving orphans and vulnerable children and a dinner at a cultural restaurant featuring traditional dance and food. 

   

Temesgen and MOWA official visit Port Townsend, WA

Last week, AAI lawyer Temesgen and a MOWA official visited Port Townsend, WA and had dinner with a number of AAI families.  Chris Little, AAI Board President and adoptive parent of many, sent these pictures in and reported that everyone had a great time.  In addition to joining local AAI families for dinner, Temesgen and the MOWA official also visited a school, several private homes and the Port Townsend courthouse where many adoptions are finalized. 

The bidding is on!!

2011 AAI Holiday Project Auction

Open for Bidding!

Head right over to this link to get a look at 100 beautiful gift items that benefit AAI's ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia and Ghana.   Jewelry, artwork, clothing and household items and vacation opportunities await you there.  Get your holiday shopping done extra early this year and your gift recipients will also appreciate that your purchase did "double duty" and helped an orphaned or vulnerable child in one of our programs.  The items were all donated by friends and supporters of AAI, many of whom are adoptive parents.  

 

Holiday Project Auction Starts October 1!

Check out all the great Holiday Gift Ideas!

Wouldn't you like to get your holiday shopping done early this year and benefit a good cause too?!   The 2011 AAI Holiday Project kicks off this year with a silent auction of over 80 beautiful items.  The online auction starts October 1 but you can start previewing the items now at this link !

As the saying goes --"Bid early and bid often."  All proceeds from the auction benefit AAI's Humanitarian Projects.  Read more about them at our website under "Humanitarian" and elsewhere here on the AAI blog.  

Thanks for shopping!  We will still be having our annual Holiday Project Fund Drive after the auction and offering you the opportunity to have a special holiday card sent to someone special who will love knowing that your gift benefited an orphaned or vulnerable child in one of our programs. Great gift idea for the many people on your list who already "have everything."   

Read the latest AAI newsletter here!