America World Adoption News

Photos Needed for 2013 Calendar

We are still looking for photos for our 2013 Calendar, and to give you more time to submit, the deadline has been extended by a week (September 28). The photos must be high quality (no blurry photos of busy backgrounds - please see current calendar for examples of what we're looking for) and we require a photo release form to use your photo. Details are listed here on our website. Photos can be sent to media@awaa.org.

To those that already sent pictures- thank you! What a joy to see your children's smiling faces. We look forward to sending each America World adoptive family a calendar at the end of the year. 

 

photo from 2012 calendar

 

New on the Website: Requesting Promotional Materials

We have added a form on our website to make it easier for you to request materials from America World. We often get requests from families that want to distribute brochures or information packets at their church events or even personal fundraisers. 

Sharing your adoption story and giving a personal recommendation about adoption or an agency is one of the best ways to help your family and friends feel comfortable in making an adoption decision. We appreciate that many families act as references for America World, share our blog button, or pass out materials at their church. 

There are two different forms on the new Request Materials page. The first is for Associates (families who officially partner with AW to lead seminars). If you are not an Associate, please use the second form here. This form captures your contact information and details about your event. After we recieve it, our PR department will follow up within three business days. Note that there is not a field to request specific materials- we will determine which materials are best based on the size and description or your event. Feel free to use the notes section to explain further. Thanks again for your part in promoting adoption!

www.awaa.org/events/request-materials

2011 Agency Annual Report

America World's 2011 Agency Annual Report is now available to view and download online!

In our continued effort to be 100% transparent with prospective adoptive parents, our clients and our investors, America World staff members have compiled reviews and updates of this past year's progress and changes for all of our various Country Programs.  A condensed, physical version will also be available in another couple of weeks and can be mailed to you upon request.

Our agency's 2011 Audited Financial Statement will also be posted to the Agency Reports page within the next month, so feel free to check back soon.

Thank you for your support of America World Adoption and our mission to build God's kingdom through His design of adoption!  We covet your continued prayers for a clear understanding of the Lord's sovereign direction of our agency.  We are honored to serve your family and the orphans of the world in 2012!

In Him,

Jason West, Director of Development

DC Area Families – Asian Festival 2011

A 2-day Asian Festival will take place at George Mason University one week from this Saturday. The Festival is promoting a greater understanding of the Asian countries and cultures of China, Philippines, Thailand and India. 

What: Asian Festival 2011

Where: George Mason University

            4400 University Drive

            Fairfax, VA 22030

When:   Saturday, July 23rd from 10am- 10pm

            Sunday, July 24th from 11am- 6pm

For more information visit the Festival page.

His Little Feet Children’s Choir Tour

Would you like to bring orphan awareness to your church in a unique, powerful way? The His Little Feet Children's Choir will be traveling the United States this fall being the voice for orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide. Each live performance event includes powerful testimonies from the children's life experiences and several songs mixed with a culturally unique, Gospel-centric message.

The tour has a number of open dates still available and we would like to give you the opportunity to bring the His Little Feet International Children's Choir to your area. If your church would like to partner with this amazing ministry email pr@awaa.org to get more details.

Calendar Contest is Underway

This is a friendly reminder that our annual calendar contest is currently underway! It's been a joy to sort through the photos sent in so far, but we hope to have many more by the September 23rd deadline. The contest guidelines can be found on our Photo Contest webpage.

Important to note this year is that we have a new Photo Consent Form. Once we have this form on file, we won't have to ask you for it again for future calendars or other opportunities. Please send your pictures and the consent form to media@awaa.org. Enjoy your summer activities - bring a camera!

America World’s Social Networks

It is easier than ever to stay connected to America World.  If you are a Facebook fan, Tweeter or blogger and you are not already connected to America World through these resources, be sure to check them out.  Through Facebook, you can “like” our main America World page and “like” the individual program pages for China, Ethiopia, Honduras and Eastern Europe. We love to hear from you!

America World on Twitter: @americaworld 

Facebook America World

Facebook AWAA China

Facebook AWAA Ethiopia

Facebook AWAA Eastern Europe

Facebook AWAA Honduras

America World Blog

AWAA Families and Staff Meet at 2011 CAFO Summit

It was a great blessing to meet with families last week at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit in Louisville, KY.  Lots of families stopped to say hi to us at the AWAA booth during the two-day event—some still in-process, and others who have completed their adoptions shared photos of their beautiful children.                                     (click to enlarge)
On Friday evening, families and several of our America World corporate staff met for dinner at a local restaurant along with the America World Kentucky Board of Directors, who arranged a great time of fellowship.  A special thank you to the KY Board for your work in making this happen!   

2012 Calendar Contest

The 2012 Calendar Photo Contest is underway! An email was sent today containing the guidelines to all America World families in referral stage through closed. If you did not recieve it, please email media@awaa.org and we will send this to you. Details about the contest can also be found anytime on the Photo Contest page on the website. Please read these guidelines carefully, as some things have changed since last year. We are looking forward to seeing your pictures and putting next year's calendar together!

“The Adoption Crusade” – Learning from Critics

In response to a misleading article in Friday’s The Nation, Christian Alliance for Orphans President, Jedd Medefind, suggests that supporters of Christian adoption and orphan care learn from critics.  Medefind’s article, “The Adoption Crusade” can be found on the Christianity Today website along with a link to Kathryn Joyce’s article from The Nation, “The Evangelical Adoption Crusade”.