The United Nations reports a staggering 143 million children identified as orphans. Now Steven Curtis Chapman continues to encourage others to step up and recognize the worldwide crisis in November for National Adoption Awareness month.
In response to the miracle they saw in their own family through adoption and with a desire to help eliminate the obstacle of finances for many families they knew, Chapman and his family established Shaohannah’s Hope Foundation in 2000. Then in 2002, as opportunities to financially assist families ready to adopt far outpaced the Chapmans’ personal abilities to fund, the foundation began accepting donations to raise further financial grants for willing families.
Arriving at a milestone this month, Chapman and Shaohannah’s Hope are thrilled to announce the 1,000th grant awarded. “This landmark number gives us reason to celebrate what God has done, but when you think of the need, it motivates us to roll up our sleeves and work even harder to look ahead and help the next 10,000,” shares Scott Hasenbalg, director of Shaohannah’s Hope Foundation. “This number is incredible, especially when thinking about where we started, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. To us, we rejoice in this number because it gives us a chance to say thank you to the many supporters who have given to our adoption assistance program. It is clearly a joint effort, as we are just one part of the body.”
Shaohannah’s Hope receives approximately 150 applications a month, with funding capacity, currently, to award 30-40 adoption assistance grants with an average amount of $3,000. Chapman has become a voice for this cause, with fans and strangers responding with over 7,000 donors giving to the foundation. His message has impacted others, and a web of influence has been created through the foundation. Recognizing that the severity of today’s orphan crisis is bigger than any one organization, FamilyLife Today, Focus on the Family, and Shaohannah’s Hope are joining forces this fall to launch a long-term, nationwide campaign called Voice of the Orphan.
This campaign went live with the launch of the website VoiceoftheOrphan.org, which is a central location for people to learn more about getting involved in caring for orphans. This resource serves as an excellent additional companion to the extensive HowtoAdopt.org and ShaohannahsHope.org. Voice of the Orphan will officially kick off with the landmark collaborative effort between the two family broadcasts of FamilyLife Today and Focus on the Family the week of November 13th. Each radio program ministry will simultaneously devote daily content to bring awareness to the issue at hand for a week long broadcasting blitz. Included will be the rebroadcast of Chapman’s appearance on both shows, one of the most successful programs to date for both national outlets.
Taking the message this holiday season, Shaohannah’s Hope is partnering with SEPIA Photo Promotions, IPI and WorldWide Photography, an organization that provides the “Santa” photo experience in more than 150 shopping malls across America. Parents purchasing photos of their children with Santa will be given the option to donate $1 to support adoption and given further information about adoption and how to make a difference.
