I made a promise, when I started this blog, that I would write not only about the process of adopting from Russia and raising children adopted from Russia, but philanthropic efforts to help the Russian children who may not be able to find forever families. That was how I came to write about an orphanage aid program started by a Hawaiian Rotary Club, and that is why I am writing today about ArkAngels.

ArkAngels For Russian Orphans was started by Lisa Ann Finneran and her husband Michael after the couple adopted twins from Arkhangel’sk, Russia in 2003. The couple set up a non-profit to raise money for Russian orphanages and Lisa cooked up a cookbook, Ya Tibya Lublu: Recipes of Love for Orphans of Eastern Europe. She collected recipes from 100 friends, family and parents of children adopted from more than 30 regions in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. She also got recipes from Olympic Gold Medalist and Ukraine native Oksana Baiul (whose philanthropy I wrote about here), Tony Award-winning actress and adoptee Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award-winning actress and adoptive mother Christine Ebersole, "Knots Landing" star and adoptive mother Donna Mills, Tony and Emmy award-winning actress and singer and adoptive mother Donna Murphy and Russian-born comedian Yakov Smirnoff.

But Lisa and Mike are on a mission. And I mean that literally right now. They left for Russia on Monday, March 5, to do volunteer work at 10 orphanages for older kids in Kostroma, Kirov and Ivanovo, which are regions east of Moscow. Their stops include special needs orphanages, a home for young mothers and a farm co-op. You can read about their work there on their Web site here.

They also, however, have found their own angel of sorts. An anonymous donor has offered to match dollar-for-dollar the first $4,000 in donations made to ArkAngels for Russian Orphans. Donations can be made through the ArkAngels Web site, or by sending a check to ArkAngels For Russian Orphans, Attn: Lisa Finneran, 9709 River Road, Newport News, VA 23601.

A lot of people--inside Russia and out--are making the lives of children in Russian orphanages better. If you readers know of other groups that deserve a mention, I hope you'll let me know.