Lighthouse Project

We explored some of the frightening statistics surrounding Russian orphans last week. As part of our comprehensive plans to address the needs of orphans wherever they may be, we have incorporated a "front line" response to the single greatest need of all-- finding a "forever" home.

Every year several thousand American families travel to Russia in search of their child. The chances an orphan will be adopted in that scenario are 1 in 3,000,000. In any given year, a child's chances are 0.083%-- less than a tenth of a 1% chance. The Lighthouse Project, dramatically increases a child's odds of finding a home by bringing the child to America for a visit.

70%-- 7 in 10 children who are part of the Russian Orphan Lighthouse Project will be adopted!

A group of families interested in adopting, a busy week at church, 10 days, and $1,000 are the keys to changing the lives and futures of these children in a lasting way.

If you or your church are interested in hosting a group of 10-15 children, the 728b Foundation will help you integrate a trip into your existing church schedule, provide an avenue for fund raising, and set up a church coordinator in charge of gathering potential adoptive families.

Our other projects facilitate the medical, nutritional, educational, and financial needs of orphans and entire regions in developing and under-served nations; but loving family environments are the ideal situation-- they're just not "the norm" for the 143 million orphans living in the world right now.

Please join us in changing the world one child at a time!

If you'd like to learn more about the Lighthouse Project, or our family of projects addressing the vast needs of orphans, please contact us.

cameron@728b.org

18 Months

That's the life expectancy of an Orphan in Russia post-institution.

Many studies have been conducted on the long-term emotional and physical effects of the brutal culture surrounding the Russian Orphanage system, but the problem is that no "long term" data can be compiled. Simply put, not enough of them survive to do a comprehensive 5 or 10-year study. 18 months is just the median for life after the orphanage---but all research agrees that this time should be measured in months, not years.

Time-wise, 18 months is roughly the same as Pancreatic Cancer after diagnosis--except the quality of life is worse with a Russian Orphan:

-15% will succumb to suicide within 2 years.

-50% will begin abuse of alcohol and/or drugs within 6 months of leaving the orphanage.

-60% are involved in prostitution and organized crime within 12 months.

-10% become "productive" members of society-- the definition is sufficiently tailored for the research:  having a job, not in jail, and still alive.  Their life expectancy is 28-30 years of age.

-If a child is 6 years or older, and remains in the system, they have a 96% chance of being doomed to those statistics. Only 4% of children over the age of 6 are adopted.

In the 18 months between orphanage and grave, the next generation of orphans are birthed.

Seems like a problem with no solution-- but hope remains, and is provided by those willing to help.

The 728b Foundation is trying to be part of the solution with our own Harbor Project and partnering with the Lighthouse Project.

If you're interested in becoming part of the solution, we'll be explaining how over the next few days. It's way too long for one post.