CRADLE Events - The Cradle

POSTCARD l From Russia
In late October, Judy Stigger, The Cradle’s recently
appointed Director of International Adoption for
Russia, and Merrilee Hepler, Vice President of Human
Resources and Administration, traveled to Russia to visit
our Moscow office and some of the regions in which The
Cradle is working. Their goals included gaining a better
understanding of the adoption process and what our families
experience in country, and getting to know Cradle
staff in Russia. They were pleased to be traveling with
adoptive parents Scott and Meg Costello, who made this
trip to finalize the adoption of their son Ilyin.
The Cradle Society in the Russian Federation was established
in 2002, and since then, more than 200 Russian
children have been placed with Cradle families in the
United States. Valentina Krasnova directs a very dedicated
staff of five in our Moscow office. Regional agents in
the program’s five regions work closely with our families
in a variety of ways, including taking them to the ministry
for their referral and to the orphanage to see their child,
meeting with physicians, and transporting them to and
from the airport, train stations and their hotel. “I was
delighted beyond my expectations with how competent
and gracious our staff is,” said Judy. “They are fluent
both bilingually and culturally and go to extraordinary
measures to help our families.”
Judy and Merrilee visited an orphanage in the Smolensk
region, around 250 miles west of Moscow. They also traveled
to the Republic of Buryatia in Siberia – a journey
across five time zones! – and Judy went on to the city
of Nizhny Novgorod on the Volga River, southeast of
Moscow. In each region they met with ministry officials to
discuss the child referral system, and to let the officials
know that The Cradle’s staff in Russia is supported both
organizationally and emotionally by an agency in the U.S.
committed to the welfare of Russian children. “We came
to learn,” Judy explained, “not to dictate standards.”
Although there was precious little time for sightseeing,
our travelers did what Merrilee referred to as the “Cliffs
Notes Tour” of Moscow one Sunday afternoon with
Cradle Russia translator/interpreter Oleg Derendyaev.
They enjoyed a stroll around Red Square and admired
the Kremlin’s imposing facade. Another highlight of the
trip was having the privilege of joining Scott and Meg for
their final court appearance. The Costellos brought Ilyin
home on October 25.
Judy and Merrilee at the Cathedral of St. Basil in Moscow’s Red Square.
Moscow staff member Oleg Derendyaev captivates a baby at the orphanage
in Smolensk.
ON THE HOME FRONT
Here in Evanston, Judy’s team includes Russia Program Specialist Sue
Petersen and Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Squires. Currently, there
are 25 families enrolled in The Cradle Russia program. On January 20,
2007, The Cradle will be hosting a festive Russia Holiday Party for families
with children from Russia at White Nights restaurant in Rosemont.
In April, the Cradle Cares Humanitarian Assistance Program will be
hosting its second annual “Night of Promise” benefit to raise funds for
Russian orphanages in the regions where The Cradle works. The generosity
of Cradle Cares donors enabled the orphanage in Smolensk to
purchase space heaters, furniture and kitchen equipment.
10 The Cradle Newsletter