Who Wants To Pay For Adopting Kids? No Really!

Our family is on a journey that you can be a part of. We’re doing our own fundraiser for an adoption, and you should check out the video.

Rachel (Carrie’s sister) and her husband Zack are trying to make some kid’s dream come true… by giving them a home. Potentially two kids. They are in the process of adopting non-infant, special needs kids from Ukraine. Most likely between ages 5 and 7, it’s old enough that their likelihood of getting adopted has greatly decreased. Not to mention special needs children have statistically less of a chance of getting adopted as well.

However, adoption is painfully expensive. Like $25,000 per child, expensive!

It’s sad that doing such a noble thing with your life can be so expensive. Preventatively expensive.

So how can they afford to do this? They must be rolling in it?

Hardly. They don’t have tv (or cable), internet, a smart phone, new cars, or a lot material possessions. They are incredibly disciplined, especially when it comes to finances.

This is where you come in. We are posting this because we believe in them and this goal so much… but we also don’t have a lot to contribute, to say the least. Well, at least financially. Hopefully we can help with their airline tickets and fund-raising.

Then, we saw Ben’s kickstart to raise $25,000 for a flight on Etihads new “Residence” class – a 3 room suite in the sky. And we thought, “well, guess now’s the time.”

So in good fun, and in the name of charity, we’re holding a competitor fundraiser.

Here’s the thing: Kickstarter takes at least 5% and they don’t really allow charity things. So we’re making our own donation platform and seeing how much we can raise by June 1. (also when Ben’s Kickstarter campgain ends). The goal is $25,000, enough to cover the adoption of one child!

This is really a test to see if I’m overly cynical: Is it easier to raise $25,000 miles to read a review of a guy sitting in the most luxurious airline seat, or for adopting impoverished special needs children? (Even if I don’t use sales tactics and pictures of starving kids to guilt trip folks).

Free Fundraising Thermometer by:
Easy Fundraising Ideas

Donations and gifts:

• Pledge $1 or more:
  Thank you! Name/Handle feature on a thank you page.
• Pledge $10 or more:
  I will personally mail you a postcard from Asia or somewhere far away.
• Pledge $50 or more:
  Webinar time. Join myself and others on a video chat about miles/points, and travel.

• Pledge $100 or more:
  A little personal attention. An hour of one on one Skype time with Drew (aka… me).
  
• Pledge $500 or more:
  All of the above. Plus, one award booking. Plus, dinner… if you happen to be in a city that we’ll be rolling through in the next year.

None of this goes to us. In fact it goes right into their adoption fund.

This is not just about Rachel and Zack. This is something Carrie and I really, really, really believe in and want to support. We hope to take care of their two (biological) kids while they are in Ukraine adopting their new family members and continue to support them as well as be a part of their lives. This is something we want to see happen, and even the smallest part anyone else will play will be incredibly meaningful to us.

Also, I note that I have no disrespect for Ben. He can fly where ever he wants, however he wants. It’s his business and people spend money on their own hobbies all the time. This is meant to spoof his efforts, not mock.

To give whatever you’d like: