Host Families Needed for Russian Angels

Free Interest Meeting April 6 at Dillon International Office in Dallas

A group of Russian orphans will make the trip of a lifetime as they travel across the world to stay with American host families this August.

The program, called Angels from Abroad, provides older children a chance to learn about American culture, share their Russian culture and experience living in a family. It also helps raise awareness about the need for adopting older children, said Irina Shytova, director of Dillon International’s Russia program, available through the licensed, non-profit agency’s affiliation with Buckner.

“With more than 750,000 estimated orphans in Russia, there is a tremendous need for adoptive families, especially families for older children. About 75 to 80 percent of the children available for adoption are 5 years old or older,” Shytova said, adding that older children in Russian orphanages face a bleak future if they are not adopted.  At the age of 17, children are forced to leave the orphanage system and many fall into alcohol, drugs, prostitution and crime. It is estimated nearly 10 percent commit suicide within the first three years.

“We have the opportunity to change these children’s lives dramatically through adoption,” Shytova said. All children are between the ages of 6 and 12.

Host families are still needed for the program. Interested families can attend a free interest meeting April 6 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Dillon International Office/Buckner Children’s Home Campus in Dallas.

WHAT:                  Free Interest Meeting for Angels from Abroad Host Families

WHEN:                  Tuesday, April 6, 2010

                             6:00 – 8:30 p.m.                           

WHERE:                Dillon International Office/Buckner Children’s Home Campus

                             5200 S. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, Texas

RSVP:                    To attend, families can contact Sharon Hedrick at 214-319-3426 or email shedrick@buckner.org

Details available at www.angelsfromabroad.com.