I recently posted a list of
10 questions to ask when you are picking an agency. Question No. 10 asked about what an agency does to help the children for whom it cannot find forever families. We may not be able to find every Russian orphan a home, but perhaps, through philanthropy, we can make their lives better.

And a lot of people--inside Russia and out--are making the lives of these children better. I'm going to start highlighting some of their efforts because I think these good people should be celebrated. If you readers know of other groups that deserve a mention, I hope you'll let me know.

Rotary International is an organization founded on a belief in service. "Service above self" is its motto, and it has programs worldwide to help disadvantaged children. The Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea in Hawaii has reached out to Rotary Clubs in Russia to create a program called Rotary OrphanAct to help children there.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I grew up in a Rotary household, and I once knew the song by heart. My interest in seeing the world was sparked by all the Rotary exchange students we hosted--kids from Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, Italy, Argentina and Brazil. So maybe I am still a bit pro-Rotary. And my kids are both from the Russian Far East, so this effort tugs on another heartstring too. But the Kihei-Wailea club's effort is as simple as it is effective.

The club uses the Internet to talk about the needs of orphanages eastern Russia--cities like Barnaul, Vladivostok and Irkutsk. The Russian Rotary clubs assess what is needed at needed at each site and the Kihei-Wailea club tries to find sponsors, donors and volunteers. In Irkutsk, for example, they sought $950 to replace chairs and school desks at a shelter. For Vladivostok, the club raised $963 to ship 450 sweaters hand made by the Guideposts Knit for Kids program. The local Rotary club (and think how great this is that the Russian economy has advanced to the point that it has Rotary clubs) handed them out at all the orphanages in town.

If you want to learn more about OrphanAct, or to volunteer your time, treasure or talent, read their newsletter here. They will also have a booth at the Rotary International Convention in Salt Lake City, from June 17 to 20, so if you are in town for that event, you might want to look them up.