AMAZING NEWS!!

Gregory is now on the "My Family Found Me Page"


A family has committed to Gregory and it's time that we step up and help them get to him as fast as possible. The more money we raise the quicker that Gregory can be in the loving arms of his family!!

Thank you to everyone who got me started with adoring this beautiful boy. Thank you to everyone who got behind this and did everything they could to support his fund. Thank you to everyone who has donated. Most of all...THANK YOU to the family who will love and cherish him!!

Don't forget to click on the link to the left to donate to his fund and know that he's only dollars away from his forever family.

Amazing Article!!!

Two Studies Show Pills Can Prevent H.I.V. Infection

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/health/research/14aids.html?_r=1

The truth about HIV is that it's a manageable virus...more easily treated than diabetes.  These children who are affected need your love to live! Please consider Gregory if you're looking to adopt. This beautiful boy needs you!

Every Single Child

A friend shared a very poigniant blog on Facebook today from Sarah Zuidema. In her blog she described a conference she attended where she heard about the tragic and horrible ways many of the world's children become orphaned, kidnapped and sold into slavery or left for dead. As anyone can admit, sometimes when we hear these things we want to look away, hide our eyes because it is too much to bear...and I completely agree. The atrocities that are happening to children are horrific! But then, she describes the courageous stories of people who, though they have little, take full advantage of everything they do have and make the effort to accomplish small but amazing things.

Even though this world is filled with 163 million orphans...even though they became orphans in sometimes horrific manner...there are many ways we can HELP. My motto: if you can help, then DO IT.

You don't have to adopt to help, but helping to find an orphan a home by contributing to an adoption fund, contributing to help keep a family together, or advocating for these beautiful children can make a difference.

The goal of the organization in which Sarah Zuidema's works is to find a family for the 163 million orphans worldwide...thats EVERY SINGLE CHILD find a family. Their goal is to provide love and security to all of the world's orphans. It's such a simple, beautiful and possible vision....but we have to work together!

Go hear to read the blog from Sarah Zuidema

You Can Afford International Adoption!! Tax Credits, Special Loans and More!

Did you know that you can get a tax credit of OVER $10,000 for adoption through the Hope for Children Act? Check out these websites for more information:

General Information about Tax Credit: http://tax-credit.adoption.com/

IRS Information about Tax Credit: http://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8839/ch01.html#d0e22

Information from the Washington Times on various ways of affording adoption:

As for help financing an adoption, there are myriad options that can offer some assistance.
Loans
There are loans designed exclusively for the purpose of adopting. Organizations like the National Adoption Foundation offer low and no-interest loans for adoptive families to spend on expenses.  They even have rates as a low as 0% foot the first six months. The hitch here is that the organization requires a donation in order to process loan applications.
A group called Lifelong for Orphans.org offers interest-free loans.

Tax Credits
Right now the federal government is offering substantial tax credits.  The adoption tax credit was extended and expanded by the healthcare legislation in 2010.  The adoption credit is calculated on Form 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses (PDF). You may claim an adoption credit of up to $13,170 (for tax year 2010) per eligible child.
This is credit, meaning if you owe less than the credit, the government will send you a check for the remainder. This credit will sunset in 2013.  It will be reduced to $5,00 per adoption and $6,000 for special needs adoption. For more information, check out the Red Thread column on federal adoption tax credits.  
Many States offer extensive tax credits – up to $10,000. 
To learn more about your state's specific tax credits, contact your state Division of Family Services and State Tax Office to ask about tax credits for adoption and/or to find out if you qualify for any special state subsidy programs.  For more details on state adoption tax credits, see the recent Red Thread column on state adoption tax credits.

Grants
Many religious and non-profit organizations offer grants of anywhere from $200 to $5,000 to help defray adoption costs.  Although an online search can yield some results, try reaching out to your church or synagogue first since they are likely to be the biggest financial supporter in your community.

Employer Contributions
Many companies have adoption assistance programs (AAPs). Check with your employer’s human resource department to see if they have an AAP or other adoption assistance benefits.  To learn more about these programs, check out these resources:
http://adopting.org/employer.html
http://www.adoptionbenefits.com/
http://abanet.org/family/advocate/sp97tax.html
or the Dave Thomas Foundation's Adoption-Friendly Employer List for important details.
Military, Nonrecurring Program

The U.S. government provides a one-time subsidy program to full-time military personnel.  Currently, adopting couples and singles can receive up to $2,000 per child per year with a $5,000 cap per member.  

Andrea is an adoptive mother and a journalist. She is at work on a book, "The Red Thread," a collection of stories told by families united through adoption. She is also owner of Media Branding International, a public relations/media consulting firm. Read more The Red Thread: An Adoptive Family Forum in The Communities at The Washington Times. 

I Am A Warrior

From May 1 – July 31, 2011, I will be participating in the 5/5/5 Warrior Project through Reece's Rainbow. I will be working to bring greater awareness and grant funds to Gregory as well as all of Reece's Rainbow's 5-year old children, including those with Down syndrome and Other Angels. 

 *********Instead of preparing for kindergarten like Gregory should be, he is hidden away and facing life-long suffering in adult mental institution in Russia.  

  Your donations and advocacy efforts truly can bring Gregory HOME into his loving forever family.   

NONE OF THESE CHILDREN should ever have to step foot into a mental institution.  Money is the only thing standing in the way.   They deserve friends, a family, and a future.    

Help my daughters and I raise $5000 or more for Gregory to celebrate Reece's Rainbow's 5 year anniversary!

Grab This!

Be sure to right click on the box below and then select all.

<center><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/gregory-5776-2h"><img width="100%" src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc502/ReecesRainbow/gregory555warrior.png"></a><br><a href="http://familyforgregory.blogspot.com/">Grab This!</a><br></center>

Funds raised during this special warrior project will be HELD for Gregory until January of 2012, without risk of it being reallocated to the older child pages. This is a great opportunity to help these kids and make sure your efforts go for them to find a family.

As Featured in San Diego Deals and Steals!!

http://sandiegodealsandsteals.com/

Shameless Plug Sunday ~ Help an orphan – because you are cool.

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Kate

Shameless plug alert – not in the least ‘deals’ or ‘steals’ or ‘San Diego’ related….that being said - if you have been following this blog for a while, it has likely saved you some money at no cost to you….so I hope you will read my shameless plug and I hope you will consider this very worthy cause – cuz even with things being tight – we are pretty well off here in the good old U.S.A.

So I thought I would take this beautiful Easter Sunday to help get the word out for a super cute little boy who is just as worthy of a family as any other child……

This is ‘Gregory’  – he is listed on Reece’s Rainbow – an International Orphan Advocacy group that helps orphans with disabilities.

Gregory is 5 years old and had kind of a crummy start to life through no fault of his own.  His birth mother’s rights were terminated. His birth father is unknown.  He is an orphan.  One of tens of thousands in his country.

ONE of about 150 million world wide – for reals.  150 million minor children with no parents – what is up with that?!

On top of that – this little boy -through no fault of his own – also has HIV. 

This handsome little guy is listed on Reece’s Rainbow – he lives in Eastern Europe.  Gregory was born in August 2005 and has a mild heart murmur (no biggie right?) and HIV – but otherwise healthy. 

Did you know that children born with HIV have a life expectancy of only 6 years LESS than a child without HIV?! Can you believe that?!  Keep in mind that medical treatment for HIV continues to improve – it is very likely that this small gap will become even smaller as time goes on!  Even with that encouraging medical news, Gregory’s chances of being adopted are much lower than ohter children because of his medical condition – that is where Reece’s Rainbow steps in – they advocate for him - introduce him to the world – and also offer a monetary grant to anyone who is willing to adopt him (to help cover the expenses of his adoption).

We have a very sweet new friend who has signed on to be Gregory’s ‘Orphan Warrior’ thru Reece’s Rainbow – meaning it is her goal to fundraise for him and also advocate for him.  She is a great example to us all – even if you cannot adopt at this moment you can still help an orphan!  I know nothing would make her happier than to see him be committed to & then watch his coming home story.

I was happy to lend her the coveted ‘Shameless Plug Sunday’ spot for her cause!

I hope you will consider the following options…

1) SHARE Gregory’s cuteness with your friends! (there is a ‘share’ button at the bottom of his profile or this post)

2) Donate to his fund – what if everyone donates $5 – that is doable right??? Can you donate more? Please do! Keep in mind statistically the kids with the largest grants get committed to first – please know you are truly making a difference considering him. Donations are 100% tax deductible and 100% stays in an account until Gregory is commited to – the money will help whoever commits to adopt him! (this is the same organization that we are adopting through – TOTALLY legit – check it out!)

3) Commit to adopt him!! Are you considering adoption? Why not Gregory?!

Want an extra incentive to donate to Mr. Gregory?  If you donate ANY AMOUNT of $5 or more please email me at SanDiegoDealsandSteals ‘at’ gmail ‘dot’ com and we will email you a SUPER cute downloadable coloring book drawn by Harry (you may remember we used this as a fundraiser for our adoption before) This is totally on your honor - just email me after you donate! I’ll email it over!

Want extra incentive – how about some good old fashioned peer pressure?

Cool people help orphans.  Nerds don’t.

Just kidding.

Not really.

Donate to Gregory…because you are cool.

please note  – my ‘shameless plug Sundays’ are never meant to be a ‘drive by guilting’ – but hopefully a great opportunity to just help if possible – I think Gregory is a worthy cause who you might have not known about had I not pointed him out – pretty please keep him in your thoughts & prayers – please donate if at all possible – please share his story!

Kate

Finding A Family For Gregory

This is my first post, my first fundraiser but not the first time I have been moved by the beautiful eyes of a child. If you have children you know the amazing wonder that takes over when you meet eyes with your child in the minutes after they have been born. I remember exactly how both of my daughters looked the first time I took them in my arms. The world stopped...and all I could see was their face and the rush of love that came over me. This is exactly what it felt like when I laid eyes on "Gregory."

It's hard to imagine how that could happen with just a picture, but it did. In my heart I know that I have to do everything in my power to help him find a family. I need to know that he will be safe and happy. This need inside of me has driven me to reach out to my family, friends and strangers to help advocate for him, raise money for his adoption, find him a family, and bring to light the atrocities and amazing hope that international special-needs orphans have. This blog will be dedicated to all of these things and I hope that your heart and resources will help our Gregory find his forever family.