I love the holidays, Thanksgiving in particular. It is a day of festivities, food, family, and a day to speak out about being “thankful.” What a great way to start out the season. Our family tradition is that each person around the table full of food says one thing to express their “gratitude” or thanks.

This year, there is so much to celebrate. The economic climate has made it difficult for the past few years, but we are here, and continuing the work in which we feel such passion. We have an amazing staff, wonderful families, and of course, fantastic children that have joined their families this year and in years past.

Programs are suffering during these hard times. Money is difficult to come by, so we have so little to offer the orphanages around the world. We are in need of your help; we are a non-profit and 100% of donations actually really go to the designated programs.

We are about ready to have our annual brunch for Birth Mothers; a wonderful day of support and love for the women who bravely made adoption decisions. We want to provide more assistance for scholarships and aid to these women to help get them on their feet. We had a school age one day program to talk about adoption, the kids were such great artists and shared their experiences with one another. I can’t wait to do more of these. Of course, our annual “LOVE” party is coming soon in February. It is a day we all enjoy so much. Seeing the families, the little kids, and the older ones as well, contributes to the passion that we all so strongly feel.

I have just returned from an adventurous trip to Lesotho, a small country fully surrounded by South Africa. Visiting several orphanages and playing with kids small and tall, I returned home knowing that we need to provide educational opportunities for these children so that it will change their lives in the future. This country is trying so hard, and like many countries, poverty and social norms, leave children in need of permanent families. We are also excited to launch or renew our program in Bulgaria. And there is more on the horizon.

My thanks and gratitude for being part of helping build your families; for having a wonderful family of my own built by adoption; for a sensitive and caring staff; for the many blessings that I have received during my life; for good health: for happiness: and for the joy of a new granddaugher, whose smile lights up my life.

Enjoy this holiday season and may your blessings be great. Please remember us, during the season of giving. We really need your help. My sincerest thanks and gratitude to all.

Lynne Silver (formally Lynne Jacobs)
“oh yes, I changed my name to my original birth name, and it feels wonderful”

UNICEF does amazing things, but it has killed the opportunity for thousands of children to leave permanent orphanage care to have a loving families of their own. I have worked in adoptions my entire career, over 35 years. UNICEF was always against international adoption, and publicly stated when the Hague was introduced that children were better off in institutional care in their home country than with a loving families in a different countries. It seems strange to want children to live with the permanent effects of orphanage life, possibly unable to care for themselves or have families of their own just so that they have a “good” cultural identity I have been in orphanages around the world; what is good cultural identity in an orphanage? Good local food? Good local relationships? Good role models? So where is the strong identity that they have gained compared to the forever love and and greater potential for a successful future? Adoption agencies who have witnessed this change are mortified that those who claim to care and honor children, don’t!

I am sincerely bothered by the lack of willingness on the part of UNICEF to receive advise from experts who have spent years representing orphans and understanding the issues. UNICEF claims to be experts in order to change laws prohibiting international adoptions, yet Harvard professors are not respected for their research and work. Adoption workers have been accused of having financial gain; yes, if it means we have jobs. We are among the lowest paid professionals of any career, having saved lives and built families forever. I would be thrilled to lay off staff because institutional children have found permanent loving homes in their country; but it is sad to reduce services because we have to leave children in orphanages with no hope!

Read: The Washington Times Article on UNICEF and Adoption