The Cost Of Big Sister's Adoption & Final Fundraiser

When Craig and I started our very first adoption to bring home two children from Bulgaria in 2009, we had been saving for five - yes you read that correctly - five years to be ready for the costs.  Therefore, even when our path took an unexpected turn and we ended up bringing home two children from two different countries in 2011, we were able to cover all of the expenses from our savings and by setting aside additional funds as we were going through the process.

This time around, we're in a different boat.  We're now the parents of two and our funding for the adoption of Big Sis is less than what we had on hand between 2009 and 2011.  Here's an approximate break-down of what we have paid already during this current adoption process which we started in September 2013:

Homestudy and post-placement reporting: 

$3000

Placing agency fee: 

$8000

International fee: 

$10,500

USCIS: 

$890

Trip 1: 

$10,000

Trip 2 (lodging, transportation, translator for over three weeks): 

$4600

What's left to pay now?  The biggest chunk of money still needed is for our airfare to and from Big Sis' country for which we are budgeting around $8000.  There are other miscellaneous costs like the medical exam in-country, the post-placement supervision, and mailing fees.

Our goal from the start was to raise $10,000, approximately 25%, of the total expenditures.  As you may remember, we had two fundraisers earlier in the year and, adding in the yard sale, have been able to raise about $4600 of our $10,000 goal.  We are so grateful to everyone who helped us get to that impressive number, but we're still $5400 from our target.  Therefore, please consider being a part of Big Sis' story via our final fundraiser:

BOXES FOR BIG SISTER

Below is a grid of the numbers 1 through 100.  Each square represents a dollar amount, for example, square 25 equals $25.  We are looking for up to 100 people to sponsor the squares on this grid by making a donation in that amount of money to our Adopt Together account here.  All contributions are tax deductible.

Now, to make it a bit more interesting, there are several random Magic Squares on the grid which are connected to little prizes, including two books signed by their authors, handmade children's gloves, and a dozen homemade cookies.  If you happen to sponsor a Magic Square, you will be mailed the prize as soon as your donation posts at Adopt Together and I have your address.

There are also ten hidden Q&A Squares.  If anyone commits to sponsoring any of those squares, I will answer the corresponding question about Big Sis after the donation posts to our Adopt Together account:

1) How old is Big Sis?
2) What's her favorite color?
3) What's her favorite food?
4) What will Big Sis's initials be after her adoption?
5) How far away does Big Sis live right now from our family?
6) What's Big Sis's eye color?
7) How often does Big Sis's special need occur?
8) What's her favorite fairy tale?
9) What color dress does Big Sis want to wear when she leaves the orphanage?
10) What's the elevation of Big Sis's city of residence?

If you have any questions or to let me know that you have made a donation sponsoring a square, please email me at viviane 8 at yahoo dot com.  You can also leave a comment here on the blog to let me know that you have sponsored a square.  The grid will be updated regularly.  Thank you.