Where Does the Money Go?

With her permission (thank you, Merrily!), I am posting here an email from our Agency's Director, Merrily Ripley. It is in reference to how donations to AAI's general fund are used. This email gives me insight on two different levels: 1) It reveals the depth of AAI's caring for the children, the relinquishing families and the adoptive families and 2) It demonstrates the ethical manner in which AAI conducts its operation without exception!

Merrily Ripley:

I thought it might be interesting for you to know what happens to money that is donated to AAI but not specified for a particular project. It goes into a general fund that allows us to do many many things. Recently we had a baby who was not gaining weight. He was hospitalized over and over without much improvement when the doctor determined the problem might be TB. He was sent back to the hospital and stated on TB treatment. A special caretaker was hired to hold him and comfort him as he underwent treatment. He responded to the treatment and is now growing and gaining normally. The adoptive family was not charged any extra for these extra expenses and costs.

In another case, the bio mother of a child lived in the north of Ethiopia and was ill but the judge required her presence in court. Our social worker flew to the north and met the mother who was willing to go to Addis despite her illness. We paid for her airfare and hotel in Addis while she was there and the judge passed the case once she appeared. Again, the adoptive family was not charged for this expense.

We believe that when we take on a case we have an obligation to finish it even if a child is in our care for many months or there are extra expenses involved. It is donations to the general fund that make is possible for us to provide these services while keeping fees low as possible. We thank those of you do occasionally or regularly donate to the general fund.

Click here if you would like to make a donation to AAI's general fund.