By Rachel Cvitanovich | Development Coordinator
In July, Kidsave welcomed 41 Colombian children as they arrived in California, Virginia, and New York to spend the five weeks with host families. They spent the summer bonding with their host families, attending Kidsave weekend events, and having the trip of a lifetime. As with every year’s group, saying “farewell for now” is the hardest part. Priscilla and Shawn, who hosted Matt, shared a touching sentiment:
“We loved having him here with our family, and they loved him. We’re all going to miss him. We put him in some swimming classes this summer – he wanted to learn to swim – and spent some time on North Captiva Island, where he got to swim in the Gulf. He had such enthusiasm for everything we did. He’d get us out of bed early and keep us going all day. It’s going to be an adjustment without him. People fall in love with that kid; he’s quite the charmer.”
For many of the kids from this year’s group of 41, their trip back to Colombia is only temporary as they begin the adoption process with their host families. But for a few others, the search continues. Because of your support, we are working tirelessly to find loving homes for these children. Currently, there are 12 Summer Miracle’s children in urgent need of an adoptive family. Here are their stories:
Stella and Vaughn, ages 12 and 16
Siblings Stella and Vaughn are in urgent need of a family. Stella is a happy, talkative, responsible, and active girl whose smile lights up every room. If she could be a superhero, she would choose Wonder Woman because she is strong and helps people.
Cheerful Vaughn loves trying new things, sharing stories and has a great sense of humor. A sports lover, Vaughn enjoys playing soccer, cycling, and baseball and loves to stay active. Their host family says, “Stella and Vaughn have a great bond, and both are always happy and laughing.”
Brentley, age 12
A natural-born leader, Brentley is often described as “noble” and has a calming way about him. Funny, joyful, and easygoing, Brentley loves playing soccer, drawing, and crafting clay figures. Brentley’s a big fan of the outdoors; he loves animals and nature. His host family says: “Brentley is the nicest kid! He’s also an amazing drawer. He can draw great anime pictures and loves drawing characters from the TV show ‘Stranger Things.’”
June, age 13
An avid artist, June loves to draw and paint – that is when she isn’t playing board games, listening to music, or cooking. Described as “soft and caring,” June can be shy but soon warms up when doing a craft together. After a fun day being creative, June is ready to enjoy her favorite meal – cheeseburgers and fruit salad! June’s host family describes her as “full of joy with a beautiful smile.” June dreams of becoming a flight attendant or a graphic designer.
Violet, age 12
Violet is a kind girl who loves animals and makes friends easily. She also has a great sense of humor! Violet’s hobbies include reading, swimming, writing, dancing, and singing. More than anything, she wants to talk about her day with a family who truly cares for her. Her host family says, “Violet is bright and warm; she loves helping others. We went on a trip to the beach, and she had a blast racing our daughter to and from the shore – she’s so fast!”
Gracie, Jared, and Ian, ages 13, 11, and 6
As a tight-knit group, these siblings want a family that will love and cherish their bond.
Gracie is an athletic, curious, quiet kid. Her favorite school subjects are social science and PE. After a long day at school, she loves to play outdoors or watch a movie.
Big brother Jared is a bright kid who is highly in touch with his feelings. Jared is passionate about learning new things and exploring new adventures. When Jared grows up, he wishes to become a paleontologist and study fossils.
Little brother Ian loves going to school and playing with his friends. Due to his sweet nature, he makes friends easily. Bringing positive energy wherever he goes, Ian hopes to be a policeman when he grows up to help others.
Their host family says, “Gracie’s been reading the ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ books in Spanish and crafting friendship bracelets. Jared and Ian have enjoyed making characters out of Perler beads! Also, our driveway is filled with their lovely chalk designs.”
Beckham, age 14
Beckham loves watching soccer and basketball and is always up for a fun game of Monopoly. Intelligent and easygoing, Beckham is advanced in mathematics and enjoys learning chemistry in school. Beckham’s host family says, “Beckham can be shy and soft spoken but loves being around other kids and making new friends. We took him to a video game arcade, and he absolutely loved it.” When Beckham grows up, he dreams of becoming a lawyer so he can help fight for the rights of others. But for now, his biggest dream is to find a family that will love and support him.
Julia and Amy, ages 15 and 17
Julia is a 17-year-old who loves science, music, dancing salsa, going to the park, and hanging out with her friends and sister. She’s sweet, talkative, curious, and loves trying new foods!
Amy loves making new friends, dancing, and taking math classes. She enjoys reading history books, drawing, and watching anime in her free time. In the future, Amy dreams of studying criminal law.
Their host family says, “the girls love drawing, watching movies, and completing puzzles together. Julia is sweet, talkative, and curious. She loves trying new food. Amy is shy and artistic.”
Alice, age 12
Alice enjoys drawing, painting, reading, singing, basketball, and imagining stories. Her favorite thing to imagine is her forever family. Alice is also affectionate and would love to be part of a family with a cat! Her current list of dream jobs includes English teacher, veterinarian, actor, model, or singer. Her host family says, “Alice is very outgoing, friendly, and silly, with a contagious smile.”
Families across the country host these children to give them incredible experiences and advocate for them to help them find a loving forever family. Donors like you to ensure all children find loving homes, whether in their home country or in the U.S.
Thank you for believing, as we do, that all children everywhere need families – we are incredibly grateful for your support!
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
