Left: Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral in Mskheta was the only church allowed by the Soviets to remain open in the entire Soviet Union.
Immediate Humanitarian Aid for War Victims
As of 15 August 2008 the Georgian Circle of Friends is aware of three excellent humanitarian aid projects: Hopscotch Adoptions' aid to specian needs orphans, the Hockley family's project to increase awareness and send money to the nation, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Hopscotch Adoptions has an orphan relief fund to provide immediate assistance to families in Georgia who currently care for orphaned children with special needs. Like many countries, Georgia has been in the process of de-institutionalizing their orphanages and relies on families within the country to provide care for these children in homes. These families rely on the government for their support to be able to buy food, diapers, and clothing. Most families are very poor financially and any disruption of their government directly impacts their ability to care for these children. While Georgia is focused on resolving conflict with Russia, Hopscotch is committed to step in and help with temporary relief so no child will suffer. Children with disabilities are at greatest risk because they have the greatest need for care.
If you would like to help a child by helping a family, please mail a tax-deductible gift to:
Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc
1208 Eastchester Drive, Suite 235
High Point, NC 27265
with memo: special needs orphan relief
With so many important international issues, it's critical that we keep the Russian-Georgian conflict uppermost in voters' minds. Morena Hockley, whose family adopted their precious son from Armenia, offers us a way to do that and send money to orphanages, too. Order t-shirts, buttons, ball caps, and other wearable symbols from her web site, For This Child. The graphic (above) is a modified Georgian flag with the Georgian word for "peace." All profits go to humanitarian aid for orphans in Georgian and Armenia.
UMCOR is the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Cindy and Kent Bair, parents of two Georgian-born children, give through UMCOR for many worldwide projects. UMCOR is the coordinating agency for US-sponsored medical airlifts. The non-governmental agency has a special fund, called an Advance fund, set up for Georgian humanitarian aid. One hundred percent of Advance donations go directly to the specified program. UMCOR keeps an active office in Tbilisi.
Georgian Children's Project
Georgian Children's Project is a centralized effort to coordinate relief to the children who live in Georgian orphanages today. Georgia is a country that loves its children but needs help providing for them at this difficult time in history.
State Ballet of Georgia
The State Ballet of Georgia is coming to the U.S. in Spring 2008. Their performances will feature celebrated ballerina and the artistic director of the troupe Nina Ananiashvili. The State Ballet will visit New York, California, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota.
Tickets: http://calperfs.berkeley.edu/presents/season/2007/dance/gsb.php
Islamic-style architecture in the capital city, below 
May 10, 2008: Independence Day
The Georgian Association in the United States of America and the Harriman Institute at Columbia University invite you to join in a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Declaration of Georgian Independence in 1918. Please mark May 10, 2008 on your calendars. We will send out an official invitation with event details at a later date.
Venue: Columbia University Kellogg Center, 420 West 118th Street, 15th Floor, New York NY10027
For This Child
GCOF member Morena Hockley says:
The For This Child project began forming when I fell for a little boy in Armenia named Davit, who is waiting to be adopted. Not being able to adopt him at this time, I wanted to do something, anything, to help him find his forever family. Thus the online shop. 100% of profits will go to Hopscotch Adoptions to form grants to assist in the adoption of Davit and other special needs children. I absolutely trust Hopscotch because the executive director, Robin Sizemore, was an integral part of our own adoption. To learn more about Hopscotch, Davit, or other special needs orphans waiting for their forever families, visit
http://www.hopscotchadoptions.org/ and
http://www.reecesrainbow.com/otherangels.htm.
2008 Heritage Tour to Georgia
Is it time to take that heritage trip back to Georgia with your family? Why not summer 2008?
November is Adoption Awareness Month
Every November the adoption community in the U.S. works to promote adoption-related issues. The primary focus is finding "forever families" for children in foster care, but there are many ideas for local action regarding international adoption.
