Fundraising - see Right

Fundraising. Hmph. I've gone back and forth several times on this issue. There are many different perspectives on fundraising to fund an adoption - and I honestly can see the rationale behind most of them. Not the least of reasons, the fact that discussing funds in relation to adoption makes me uncomfortable because people naively discuss the adoption as if we are "buying" a baby. We are not purchasing Anna. We are paying legal, travel, administrative, professional fees that ensure her adoption is legitimate. Unfortunately, lawyers, travel agents, airlines, hotels, doctors, social workers, and the like are unable to donate their time and services to me, and so the reality becomes thousands of dollars paid to them out of our pockets.

Follows is what has gone in my mind.

Some believe since we're choosing to adopt this child, we should pay the fees ourself. I can see this, we're blessed with three children and no one is forcing our hand to bring home another. That said, we feel our family is incomplete without this child and adoption is our best option for many reasons. Most people do not have savings or cash to pay for an international adoption outright, including us. Although Money makes things happen, it's far from Everything. We don't believe a short term lack of funds should limit the long term fulfillment of our Family. Much of our adoption has been funded on credit - you don't think twice of taking out a loan for a car that depreciates daily and lasts 10 years, why not a loan to pay for services that facilitate adding to your family? But credit has that ugly effect of increasing debt, so the less we have to borrow the better.

Some believe fundraising for an adoption creates an uncomfortable equivalency between the child and the term "charity". There is concern that adoptees may feel they are a charity case, and obligated to be ever grateful to those who brought them home. I worry about this, but I worry about the lasting impression my actions and choices have on all my children. I also believe a strong sense of self will go a long way to righting any wrongs I do them on their way to adulthood. And, unfortunately, asking for help to bring her home will likely be one of the lesser wrongs we do.

By switching to the special needs line, we have come upon the eve of our referral much sooner than we expected. While this is good and perfect in every other way, it has left us less time to save money towards the expenses we will incur over the next several months. Combine that fact with the ugly one of Steve's recent bad luck in terms of employment and payment - or lack there of - and I've been pushed to the side of the fence that supports fundraising.

Before Anna is home, we will have to pay several thousands of dollars for many different services. One of the biggest would be travel for Steve and I to go to China, stay to complete the legal proceedings that will need to be done and come home with our new daughter. The least, as far as I can guess now, may be Anna's medical examination in China for immigration purposes which will cost about $50. In between we have a significant donation to her orphange, fees for translation and notorization of documents, administrative fees to our agency who is doing a phenominal job at readying us for her arrival, immunizations for Steve and I to stay safe and healthy in China, etc.

SO, as much as I hate it - I hate asking for help, especially of the financial kind - I am. I'm brainstorming ideas of effective and fun means of raising money to meet the expenses and am asking for your help in whatever way you feel you can from providing suggestions of means that have worked for you to giving donations. Gulping down the pride...

N