Brittany Hope's Mission
We believe in the fundamental right of all children to have the security and love of a family and as such, we resolve to facilitate adoption of special needs, older and sibling children by providing financial grants to special waiting children; to actively seek out healthy and happy families who can offer love and support to waiting children; to raise public awareness of the need for healthy homes for special needs, older, and sibling children and to raise public awareness of the unique joys of parenting a special child.
Brittany Hope's Background
Brittany's Hope is a non-profit foundation dedicated to aiding and facilitating adoptions of special children from around the world. Each year thousands of children wait for adoption in foreign orphanages. Often adoption is a loving choice that can save a child from a life of poverty and despair. This is especially true of special foreign children.
Brittany's Hope was created in the spring of 1999 with the goals of educating and encouraging families to consider the unique joys of parenting a special needs foreign child. We do this through child-specific advocacy of waiting international children.
The Starfish
Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasnt dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, "Good morning, what are you doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I dont throw them in theyll die."
"But young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You cant possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference to that one."
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.
Adapted from the Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley
1907 - 1977
It is interesting that the "wise man" is actually not the wise one in the story; rather the young boy. He reminds us that each of us has been gifted with the ability to make a difference in the world. He also reminds us as we "dance" through life, we experience Gods grace when we put others before ourselves. It is through such grace that we are able to create our visions and develop the power to make a difference. Brittany's Hope Foundation and the children we have helped is proof of this power that arrives through vision and confidence. Someone believed in YOUR life enough to make a difference in YOU. Make a difference in the life of a child who waits through a donation of time or money.