Vote for Reece's Rainbow

Reece's Rainbow is in the running (leading) to win $50,000 from Cultivate Wines' The Give Contest. If RR wins 10 adorable orphans with Down syndrome will receive $5,000 into their individual grants! How amazing would that be? With so many die hard advocates with the heart for orphans this should be no problem. Anyone over the age of 21 is allowed to vote once a day through their facebook account. If you have friends and family members with facebook accounts you can have them all vote once a day also. Please vote daily until Oct 31st, the more votes the better. Click here to VOTE!

Look at these gorgeous kids, vote for them.

Teamwork Tuesday ~ Brent

I have slacked for the last few weeks on my Teamwork Tuesday posts, so who better to write about to start me back up than Brent? Brent has always stuck out to me because of how sweet he looks in his photos. Brent has already been transferred but no one would know that by looking at his beaming picture. Most of the kids when transferred look defeated, malnourished and neglected. Brent looks like he is still full of life! I guess it's no surprised that Brent is the orphanage favorite, who wouldn't love this little boy?

Brent's medical records note that he has severe mental retardation,  Down syndrome, displastic cardiopathy (О.О.О.) converging strabismus and post-tuberculosis neuro-sclerosis. He is considered lower functioning but I think a loving family can change that. I think any family would be so lucky to have this adorable 7 year old in their family.

If you would like to donate to Brent's grant here is the link. I should add that Brent has a sizeable grant, it's sitting at a little over $10,000.  He has many people rallying and fundraising for him, I'm sure his future family will have no problems finding fundraising helpers.

A shower for the newest 5 Unroe's

A sweet friend of mine Colleen is hosting a virtual shower for one of the most amazing families I know, the Unroe's. The Unroe's have 5 little ones coming home in a few short weeks and are still a little short on funds. Amanda Unroe is one of the most giving women I know, she is the first to give to others fundraisers and will spread awareness to other families before her own. Since she is such a great support to other fundraisers and families I think people forget to ask how her funding is coming along. That's why I am so glad there are people like Colleen to host such a unique fundraiser to benefit families like the Unroe's.

Here are the 5 newest Unroe's. Just a warning, there is some major "cuteness" packed into these 5 pictures:

                                             

 Here is the link to the shower Colleen is holding for the Unroe's.

Update on Brady and the Kona Inspired contest.

Here is what Brady wrote in his blog recently as an update:

"My family and I have loved being able to work on behalf of the children on Reece's Rainbow since finding this great organization. It's for this reason that I had a hard time sleeping because of the excitement after hearing about this announcement!

Two months ago, Ironman announced a contest called Kona Inspired. How it works is they have given the general public an opportunity to submit a 90 second video based around the theme, "Anything is Possible". Winners receive a spot to race in the Ironman World Championship in October, but most importantly, they will race as a media athlete and have the opportunity to share their story on NBC's nationally televised broadcast of the championship this year! THIS COULD BE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN'S STORY WITH THE WORLD!!!

After reading Ironman's press release we immediately went to work. This is an opportunity to help these children in a way that I never imagined possible! The video came together with the help of many wonderful people and we submitted it. 105 videos were submitted. After over a month long preliminary public voting, we just received word that we are one of the top 15 videos and will compete in the final round of voting June 4 - June 18!!!

Please take a moment to WATCH, VOTE, and SHARE our video as much as possible throughout the day from your home computer, work computer, laptop, phone, etc! We need to be in the top 2 videos at the end of the day on June 18.

KONA INSPIRED VIDEO LINK

Thank you for your time and willingness to make the dream of these orphans of finding their forever family a reality!"

 

I know Brady wrote in his update that he made it to the top 15 voted videos, but I wanted to add that he is at the #1 voted spot! We need to keep him there. He has the whole Reece's Rainbow community supporting him. It's amazing to watch the votes keep climbing throughout the day, please share the video link and vote. He is making a difference.

Teamwork Tuesday ~ Priscilla

This happy little girl is named Priscilla. She is 2 years old and is described as being communicative, cheerful, active, friendly, and likes to play with different toys. Priscilla is struggling with "pre-leukemia" which is also known as congenital myelodysplastic syndrome. She also has some facial features that are prevalent in children with FAS.

To view her profile or donate to her grant.

Here's more information about adopting in her region:

Married couples only

No parental age restrictions
No stated family size restrictions
Total with travel approx $25k
Both parents for 2 1/2 weeks to attend court
Both parents return home for 10 day wait
Only one must return to complete the adoption for approx 14 days
No history of mental health conditions or infectious diseases
No criminal history
May adopt multiple unrelated children
Adopting in her region can be very fast, an average of 7 months. So families should be financially prepared to move quickly.

I have never been so excited and sad as I am writing this post. This weeks child for teamwork Tuesday is Darryl. My husband and I desperately wanted to commit to this boy but it fell through. I pray about Darryl daily and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't daydream about him, about what he is doing, feeling, wanting. He is almost 5 and is facing transfer to an adult mental institution if he isn't already there. His profile says how sweet, friendly, physically active and sociable he is. You can just tell the amazing kid he is just by looking at his photos. There isn't anything I've wanted more than for Darryl to have a family. Please please please someone go get him. I will personally help you fundraise, whatever it takes to get him home. I love this little boy to pieces, maybe you can too?

Here is information on adopting Darryl:

3 trips are required

1st trip, Both parents for 5-7 days

2-3 month wait for the judge to appoint the court hearing

Both parents travel for 2nd trip about 7 days, both parents leave after the court hearing

30-day waiting period is NOT waived for special needs

Only one parent would need to return after the 30-day wait

Up to 5 young children in the home if the family income is sizeable (the adopted child being the 5th child)

Both parents must be younger than 60 years

Parents may NOT be currently on anti-depressants; prior history of anti-depressants may be permitted on a case-by-case basis

No criminal background (DWI's acceptable on a case by case basis)

EASY TRAVEL IN-COUNTRY

Fee includes orphanage donation

Married couples and single heterosexual mothers may apply

Un-related children may not be adopted simultaneously

Total program and travel fees approx $35-40K

Update On Isabel!

I was just browsing through different websites for waiting children like I do most nights and was so surprised when I saw Isabel had a new photo on my favorite site Reece's Rainbow! I don't know how "new" it is since I've been slacking a little in advocating department for her. Look at her now! She has grown so much since her last photo, I don't know how she keeps getting cuter and cuter!

There is also a little update from a family who met her back in March of 2012. "Isabel and Holly are together in the same group. She is small for her age, not walking yet, but the caregivers are working on helping her stand and she takes steps holding their hands. She is a very happy, sweet, gentle personality. She enjoyed our time interacting and responded well to being hugged and held in my arms. She is tiny for her age but looks healthy overall."

To read more about this adorable little girl I love so much or to donate to her grant CLICK THIS.