A Poem and Website to Share

I saw this poem on a website and I love it! It conveys my feelings so well.
(www.grantmeachance.com -check it out)

Some would gather money
along the path of life.
Some would gather roses and
rest from worldly strife.

But I would gather children
from among the thorns of sin.
I would seek a little child with
a big and toothless grin.

For money cannot enter in
the land of endless day,
And roses that are gathered
soon wilt along the way.

But oh, the laughing children
as I cross the sunset sea,
And the gates swing wide to Heaven.
I can take them in with me!

-Author Unknown

The "Grant Me a Chance" organization provides grants for families adopting special needs and older children. If you're interested in adopting, but are concerned about the finances, there are numerous organizations that will help. Drop me a note with your email address in the comments and I'd be more than happy to find a list of those organizations to send to you. If God has laid adoption on your heart, don't let anything so little as money stop you. You will be beyond blessed....eternally blessed!

Or, if you aren't called to adoption but take the call to "look after orphans in their distress" (James 1:27) seriously, and would like to give to one of these organizations who help give children homes, I'd love to help you find a place to make a donation, as well.

Or help an adopting family you know. Help them fundraiser or ask them what their needs are. China adoptions cost over $20,000 and many families aren't adopting because they have an extra $20,000 lying around that they don't know what to do with. Many are adopting out of sacrifice and a love for children. Every little bit helps!

We can all "take them in with us!" one way or another, as the poem says.

God bless!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, this is going to be long, but I figured it was worth posting the list here. We haven't used any of the grants, so I can't give personal input, but know of people who have used several of them.
I hope this helps someone! We DID use Pat's company's adoption benefit of $5,000 in adoption expense reimbursements so check with your employer on benefits. There's a list below of some companies that have adoption benefits (the list is several years old).
ALSO, there is a (something like) $11,000 tax CREDIT for international adoption for families with an income under something like $150,000 annually (not sure exactly). You may want to check that out, as well. My point is that if you want to adopt but have always heard how expensive it is, don't let that be an obstacle.

Please leave a comment if you have an organization to add!

Americans Adopting Orphans
http://www.orphans.com/ Each quarter the Board of Advisors will meet to recommend that individual families receive grants to help them with their adoption.
Americans Adopting Orphans12345 Lake City Way NE #2001Seattle, WA 98125Home Office Phone: (206) 52-4-KIDS (5437)FAX: (206) 527-2001 or....
Americans Adopting Orphans9909 Manchester Road #369St. Louis, MO 63122-1927Branch Office Phone: (314) 963-7100aao@orphans.com
*Americans Adopting Orphans Low Interest Loans- Qualified client families of Americans Adopting Orphans will be able to apply for relatively low interest adoption loans through Watermark Credit Union. The loans are available in several forms including personal loans, secured loans, home equity loans, and VISA lines of credit from which families may make cash advances. Qualifying for loans from credit unions is normally easier than from banks and the interest rates are usually better than those of banks. Just another way Americans Adopting Orphans helps make adoptions more affordable for families. Call us for more information or visit their website and click on Financial Assistance on the left side table. www.orphans.com

Child Adoption Funds. Our mission is to allow adoptive couples and individuals to establish a personalized 501(C)3 Foundation, which can be used to raise the funds necessary to pay for the cost of their International adoption on a tax-deductible basis.
http://www.childadoptionfunds.org/.

Child Welfare League Of America Foundation offers adoption resources and advocacy for prospective adoptive families. http://www.cwla.org/

China Care FoundationFinancial Aid for Adopting Families: Many adopting families cannot afford the $16-20,000 cost of adoption. China Care is trying to alleviate this burden through loans and grants. They are especially interested in helping families who are adopting special need children. Many mildly disabled children, such as cleft lip and clubfoot, can be made healthy through surgery and lead completely normal lives in American families, thus providing satisfaction for the adopting family and being saved from an institutionalized life.In order to encourage the adoption and care for orphans from China, the China Care Foundations:**Provides financial aid in the form of grants or loans for the adoption and/or medical treatment of orphans. Many families can afford to take wonderful care of their children, but cannot afford the one-time cost of adoption.
www.chinacare.orgContact Information: China Care Foundation
P.O. Box 607
Westport, CT 06881
Email: info@chinacare.org
Tel: 203.861.6395Fax: 203.618.0470

Christian Adoption Resources Inc
http://www.christianadoptionresources.org/
Prospective adoptive couples may apply for a grant after they have an approved home-assessment by a licensed adoption agency. Their adoption agency/attorney must provide a letter of recommendation.
Christian Adoption Resources Inc30 Harmony Hall Dr.
Carlisle, PA 17013 Email: CARIMinistries@aol.com

Grant Me a Chance at www.grantmeachance.com. Grants for special needs and older child adoptions.

The Nikita Fund Adoption grants given to children need homes and born with Down syndrome.To Apply For Grant:Grants of $500. given. Prospective parent(s) should send a written request along with a photo of the child and verification of the pending adoption from the adoption agency. Include also a receipt of money spent towards the adoption.Visit the Internet site for more details.Contact: marsilio@ptdprolog.net
http://groups.msn.com/dav.msnw?uri=/SupportSt/petitelass58/NikitaFund.html&pgmarket=

Feng LiLi
(Request Application) Meet quarterly or on demand, when necessary to review applications. Feng LiLi 180 Laurel Avenue Forest, IL 60045 (847) 482-0500

Gift of Adoption Fund
http://www.jsw-adoption.org/1. Applicants must have a completed and approved home study by a qualified Agency or Professional licensed in the state in which they reside before they can apply for a grant.2. Financial Need - Applicants are evaluated based on their income, assets, liabilities, earning potential and other financial resource opportunities.3.Hardship - Preference will be given to those applicants who are experiencing extraordinary hardship. Examples would include medical special needs on the part of the child and/or situational hardship on the part of the parents or the child.
Grants are awarded to ALL prospective parents. Singles as well. Grant amounts vary between $2,000-$5,000 and applicants are reviewed and grants awarded monthly. You are allowed to apply for a grant up to 3x's.
Telephone: 262-268-1386 or 877-905-ADOP (2367)FAX: 262-268-1387Gift of Adoption Fund
101 East Pier Street, 1st FloorPort Washington, WI 53074E-mail: info@giftofadoption.org
Offering Grants and Loans Call (209) 572-4539 for more information God's Grace Adoption MinistryP.O. Box 4Modesto, CA 95353
http://ggam.org

Helping Kids Cope: Jennifer at Jennifer@helpingkidscope.com – for TN residence mainly

HIS KIDS TOO His Kids, Too!PMB # 180, 3491 Thomasville Rd.Tallahassee, FL 32309director@hiskidstoo.org
http://www.hiskidstoo.org/
Contact: Mrs. Teresa Fillmon-Founder/DirectorA Christian nonprofit international humanitarian aide organization that provides aide to orphans and widows in several countries - primary focus is Ukraine, Russia, and Albania. For parent(s) adopting international children, His Kids Too! provides an adoption grant of up to $2,000 for one child, and up to $4,000 for 2 children. Grants are paid directly to the agency or facilitation service (for independent adoptions, grants approved on a case-by-case basis.) His Kids Too! has a goal of helping as many people as possible to adopt international children, but cannot possibly help everyone. His Kids Too! reserves the right to deny any application for any reason stated or not.

I. C.A.R.E. Fund: Melita Brooks, PO Box 2575, Lindale, TX 75771, tel. 903-881-2575 – For TX residence mainly

International Adoption Assistance Foundation, Inc
6420 Tokeneak TrailMobile, AL 36695 - 2940Contact: Donald L. Parker or Linda J. Bushy - DirectorsPhone: (334) 633-4300
Lalka Foundation(610) 694-9211

The Lalka Foundation offers grants and assistance to parents who would like to fundraise through a tax-deductible entity for the purpose of saving funds toward adoption.
International Care, Inc.: Website: http://www.intlcare.org/ (downloadable application is available). PO Box 19020, Baltimore, MD 21284, tel. 800-513-9896


Shaohannah's Hope: sccmusic@stevencurtischapman.com, call toll-free at (800) 784-5361 or check their web at http://www.shaohannahshope.com/assistance.html

Siblings Adoption Agency
http://www.siblingsadoption.com/welcome.htmSiblings Adoption offers grants for qualified families toward international adoption. Grants are as follows: $2000 per one child, $4000 for 2 children. Please send us a letter explaining why is it a hardship for you. Your request will be given a closest consideration and you will be notified about our decision shortly.
http://siblingsadoption.com/financing.htm

The TMG Foundation: Andy Lehman at alehman@themannagroup.com

Wide Smiles Resources and information on adopting children with cleft-lip/pallets
http://www.widesmiles.org/
Contact:
Wide Smiles
P.O. Box 5153Stockton, CA 95205-0153
Phone: 209-942-2812Fax: 209-464-1497

Military Adoption Reimbursement Program
Military non-recurring subsidy program is a one-time subsidy program for full-time military personnel.Adopting couples or singles can receive up to $2.000. reimbursement on adoption expenses for one child or a maximum amount of $5,000. for siblings or two children whether adopting a healthy infant, a waiting child, or a child from abroad. Travel costs, foreign or domestic, are not covered. Reimbursement is made ONLY after the adoption is finalized and only if the adoption was done through a state adoption agency or a non-profit private agency. Fees that can be reimbursed include adoption fees; placement fees, including fees for birth parent counseling; legal fees and court costs; and medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother and her newborn infant. Eligible personnel should complete DD Form 2673 (Reimbursement For Adoption Expense).See Defense Finances and Accounting Service Instruction 1341
http://military.adoption.com/army/military-adoption-benefits.html
Help With Expenses - Military Subsidies http://www.nefe.org/adoption/adopt.pgs/helpf.html http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reus_adoptionintro More info on Military Non-recurring Subsidy Adoption Exchange Association at (303) 333-0845

A book to help with finances: You Can Afford Adoption by Heaton and Hunt (Available at motherscharm.com)

Below are companies which may reimburse part of adoption expenses. They all begin to run together....sorry, that's the way they pasted and it got tedious putting commas between them. Check your employer for adoption benefits. They may not be listed here. We did use Pat's company's adoption benefit (AstraZeneca) and received a $5,000 reimbursement on expenses after the completion of the adoption!

A, B-AARP**ABB CE Nuclear Power** Abbott Laboratories, Advanta Corporation**Advocate Health Care**Ag Processing**Aetna Inc.**Aetna Life & Casualty, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., Allegiance Corporation, Allstate Insurance Company, American Express, American Home Products Corporation, American International Group**American Management Systems**American Ref-fuel Company**Ameritech Corp., Amgen, Inc., Amoco Corp., Applied Communications, Inc., Arthur Anderson LLP**Ashland, Inc., AstraZeneca, AT&T Global Information Services, Avon, A. W. Restaurants, Inc.**Autodesk, Inc., Bank of America**Bank One, Baptist Hospital of Miami, Barnett Banks, Basic American Foods, Baxter Healthcare, Bayfront-St. Anthony's Health Care, BDM International, Inc.BE&K; Engineering and ConstructionBell Atlantic**Bell South Corp.Beneficial Corp.Ben &: Jerry's Homemade, Inc.Berger Brunswig CorporationBest FoodsBlue Cross &: Blue Shield of Mass.Book of the Month Club, Inc.**Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc.Borden Inc.**Boston Scientific Corp.**Brentwood Services, Inc.**Bristol-Myers SquibbBuilders Square**Bureau of National Affairs, The.
-C, D-Calvert GroupCampbell Soup CompanyCapitol Cities / ABC, Inc.Cardinal Glennon Children's HospitalCeridian CorporationChase Manhattan Bank, NAThe Chester County HospitalChevron CorporationChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)The Chubb Group of Insurance CompaniesCIGNA Corp.The CIT Group, Inc.Citicorp/CitibankCMP PublicationsCoach LeatherwareColgate-Palmolive CompanyComerica IncorporatedCompaq Computer CorporationComputerWorld, Inc.Conde Nast Publications, Inc.Consolidated Rail Corp.Control Data Systems, Inc.Coopers & LybrandCorestates Financial Corp.Corning IncorporatedCranston Print WorksCrozier-Chester Medical CenterDartmouth CollegeDate General CorporationDDB Needham WorldwideDeere & CompanyDeloitte & ToucheDelta Dental of PennsylvaniaDillon International, Inc.Dispatch Printing CompanyDomino's Pizza, Inc.Donnelly CorporationThe Dow Chemical CompanyThe Dupont Merck Pharmaceutical Company
-E, F, G-Eastman Kodak Co.Eaton CorporationEddie BauerEDSElf Atochem North America, Inc.Eli Lilly PharmaceuticalsErnst & YoungFannie MaeFel-Pro IncorporatedFidelity InvestmentsFirst Chicago CorporationFirst Tennessee BankFirst Union CorporationFlagstar CompaniesFMC CorporationFrankford HospitalFreddie MacThe Gallup OrganizationGannett Company, Inc.General Electric Co.General MillsGenentechGlaxo Wellcome, Inc.Glen Cove School DistrictGorden Flesch CompanyGTech CorporationGTE Telephone OperationsG. T. Water Productions, Inc.
-H, I, J, K, L-
HCA (Hospital Corporation of America)Hallmark Cards, Inc.Hanna AndersonHarris BankHarvard UniversityHasbro, Inc.The Hearst CorporationHewett AssociatesHewlett-PackardHill, Holiday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc.Hoechst Celanese CorporationHome Box OfficeHolt International Children's Services, HomeDepot, Household InternationalHughes Aircraft CompanyHunt Manufacturing Co.IBM (International Business Machines Corporation)IntermetricsInternational Brotherhood of TeamstersInternational Game TechnologyITT HartfordJ M Family Enterprises, Inc.John HancockJohn Hopkins UniversityJohnson & JohnsonJohnson InternationalW. K. Kellogg FoundationKemper National Insurance CompaniesKPMG Peat MarwickLancaster Laboratories, Inc.Lincoln National Corp.Little Caesar'sLotus Development Corp.Louisiana Tech University
-M, N, O- Manatee Community CollegeMarquette Electronics, Inc.Marriott InternationalMassMutual (Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.) Mattel, Inc.MBNA America Bank, NAMCA/Universal City StudiosMCR CorporationMentor Graphics CorporationMerrill Lynch & CompanyThe Miami HeraldMicrosoft, Inc.Millipore Corporation3M (Minnesota Mining & ManufacturingMonsanto Co.Morrison & FoesterMotorolaMutual of New YorkNabisco Foods GroupNational Adoption CenterNations BankNeuville Industries, Inc.Newly Weds Foods, Inc.Newport Creamery, Inc.New York Life Insurance CompanyNike, Inc.Northern Trust Corp.Northern States Power CompanyNYNEXOracle CorporationOwens-Corning Fiberglass
-P, Q, R- Pacific BellPacific Gas & ElectricThe Partnership Group, Inc.Patagonia, Inc.Payless Cashways, Inc.Penn Virginia CorporationPennsylvania Crusher Corp.Pfizer, Inc.Phoenix Home Life Mutual Life Insurance CompanyThe Pillsbury CompanyPitney BowesThe PMA GroupPress TelegramPrice WaterhouseThe Principal Financial GroupProctor & GambleProvidence Gas CompanyProvidence HospitalProvidence Journal Co.The Prudential Insurance Company of AmericaQuad/GraphicsRed Wing Shoe CompanyResort Condominiums International, Inc. (RCI)Rhone-Poulec, IncRiverside Methodist Hospital Rockwell InternationalRoger Williams UniversityRohm and Hass CompanyRSLRyder Systems, Inc.
-S, T- The St. Paul CompaniesSt. Petersburg TimesSara Lee CorporationSAS InstituteSchering-Plough CorporationSC Johnson & SonSecurity Benefit GroupServiStar CorporationShipley CompanySilicon GraphicsSimon & ShusterSmith CollegeSmithKline Beecham Pharmaceutical Co.Spiegel, Inc.SprintSouthwest AirlinesStanford UniversityStanley WorksState Farm Insurance Co.**State of ColoradoState of MontanaState of New YorkState of North DakotaState of PennsylvaniaState of South CarolinaState of UtahTandem Computers, Inc.
Target Corp.Tenet Healthcare CorporationTexaco, Inc.Texas InstrumentsTom's of Maine, Inc.Toray Plastics
-U, V, W, X, Y, Z-UnisysUnited States Surgical CorporationUnited Parcel ServiceUnited TechnologiesUniversity of OklahomaUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of WyomingUpjohn CompanyUS WestThe Vanguard Group, Inc.The Voucher CorporationWarner-Lambert Corp.Watson Wyatt WorldwideWendy's International, Inc.Roy F. Weston, Inc.WeyerhaeuserW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Women & Infants HospitalWork/Family Directions, Inc.Wyeth-AyerstXerox Corporation