July 2008 Letter to my Friends     As many of you know, our family was made complete in 2003 through our adoption of Valentina.  I have continued to do volunteer work with adoption support groups in the area, and our family has continued to make donations to the orphanage where Valya spent her first year of life.  I have been searching for a way to do more, and I have found it!  I know you have heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.”  I am writing to ask you to consider becoming part of a 'village' to SAVE a child.  Together, we can help a family complete an adoption by funding an adoption grant.  I am calling the village, ‘500 Friends’.  Our family is working with the public charity, Gift of Adoption Fund (GOAF), to create ‘500 Friends’ with their Giving Circle Campaign.  There are more than 800,000 orphans in Russia and the Ukraine, and millions more all over the world.  Many of us have children, and know what a blessing they can truly be.  Please consider sending a donation of as little as $10 and making it a reality for another family to bring their child home.  Together, our 'village' can make a difference -- one child at a time.   I have great and exciting news to share!  In February 2008, GOAF linked us with a family in Colorado who is trying to adopt Anya, a 15-year old girl in a Ukrainian orphanage.  Because of her age, Anya will be 'opted out' of the orphanage soon, and will be expected to make her own way in the world.  At 15??   The family in CO needs a grant from GOAF to make the adoption possible.   I would like to ask you to consider making a donation today.  I was told the family will be traveling to the Ukraine to begin the adoption process in September 2008.      You can make a donation safely and securely at their website by following this link:  http://www.giftofadoption.org/mcmahon.asp  Phone donations or mail donations are also accepted, and you can find information on the website.  We hope to gather the $5000 in donations before September!     GOAF was founded about 10 years ago by Gene and Lucy Wyka, three time adoptive parents, who kept meeting families ready and willing to adopt children all over the world, but who just didn’t have all the money needed to pay for attorneys, social workers, translators, drivers, and travel costs.  GOAF has provided over $1 million in grants to more than 330 families across the country.  GOAF receives more than 100 grant applications every month, and is unable to help all applicants due to a lack of funding. It takes approximately $5,000 to “Fund a Grant”.  This $5,000 provides a child a family forever.  Pam Devereaux, CEO, tells me that they want to help every family that needs the financial assistance.  I believe that every child deserves a family to love and who will love them, so that's why I am volunteering my time to help GOAF and to help Anya.         GOAF is a 501(c)(3) public charity, and your donation is entirely tax deductible.  For more information, visit GOAF’s website at www.giftofadoption.org.    Thank you for ‘listening’ and for considering this request.  If you want more details, please e-mail me at jodi_mcmahon@yahoo.com.    Warmest regards,   Jodi and Greg McMahon, adoptive parents of Valentina McMahon    Collected as of 7-16-08  $1350.00