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"If it weren't for Amara, we wouldn't be celebrating this Christmas with our granddaughter."
Family who adopted their child through Amara 30 years ago |
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Dear Friends,
Thoughts and activities during the holiday season often revolve around family. As an Amara supporter, you can reflect with pride on the joy your involvement has brought in 2010.
Among the more than 50 children who have found permanence and healing with an Amara family this year, a few children especially come to mind.
- 13-year-old Nate, who lived in foster care for nine years before finding his forever family,
- Siblings Mia and David, 8 and 6, whose Amara adoptive family kept them together, and
- 2-year-old Chelsea, living with cerebral palsy, whose adoptive parents are committed to providing her every opportunity to thrive.
These children have lived in the uncertainty of temporary foster care. Now they can celebrate the holiday season with their forever families and start new holiday traditions. Thank you for helping them find the safety and stability that every child deserves.
Warm holiday wishes,
John Morse, Executive Director
The children's names have been changed to preserve confidentiality. |
| After two years of uncertainty, Tara is forever home | |
Tara was just four months old and in urgent need of a temporary home when Steve and Sara met her. Tara was already behind in her physical development and was unable to make eye contact. Steve and Sara fell for her immediately. Tara needed lots of love and holding, and her new foster parents were happy to oblige.
 | | Tara (middle) celebrates the holidays with her forever family |
Steve and Sara knew that Tara's stay with them would likely last only months. "We talked about it a lot, and we prayed as a family," says Steve. "We were all clear that if providing temporary care blesses a child for six months, it blesses her for six months. It's not about us, it's about the child."
Sara and Steve's love for Tara grew and their daughter Kailee became smitten as well. After nearly two years of uncertainty, Sara and Steve were chosen as Tara's forever family. The family stays in touch with Tara's birth family, because, as Sara says, "the more people who love her, the better."
Today, Tara is a funny, bright and confident three-year-old girl. "When people learn that we adopted Tara, they often say to us 'What a blessing you're giving her,' but we feel so blessed to have her in our lives."
Photo courtesy of Julie Sotomura/PhotoMura Images |
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Joyful Party in Honor of Adoptive Families | |
 | | Avery has fun at the craft station |
Over 130 children and parents from 40 Amara families joined us for cake, crafts, music, and a photo booth to celebrate National Adoption Day. The afternoon was filled with laughter and joy!
National Adoption Day is celebrated nationwide each year as families, adoption advocates, policymakers, judges and volunteers come together to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care and to honor all families who adopt.
Many thanks to the Junior League of Seattle and Julie Sotomura of PhotoMura Images for supporting this very special event. |
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Small steps, big changes...You can help! | | |
Celebrate this holiday season by supporting Amara's work. Here is what you can do to continue our vision of A Home for Every Child:
- Make a gift to Amara in honor of your friends and family. We'll send a hand-addressed holiday card informing them of your gift.
- Become a community leader and inspire others by serving as a Table Captain at our 2011 luncheon.
- Come celebrate Amara with friends, family, and community at our 2011 Luncheon. Register as a guest.
- If you do your holiday shopping at Amazon.com, please use this link and Amara will receive 4 - 8.5% of your sales total (depending on your order volume).
- Tell your loved ones why you support Amara. Every time you spread Amara's message, a child comes one step closer to connecting with their forever family.
To learn more about these opportunities, please email Megan MacCrellish or call her at (206) 260-1704. Thank you! |
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Amara: Building Strong Families since 1921
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