My Name is Life - Holt International

Gatherings such as the annual Holt picnic held at the Holt family farm in Creswell, Oregon,
presented an opportunity for families to support one another and share helpful information on
raising adopted children from another country.
United States
They were pioneers—the families who adopted
children during Holt’s early years.
Several times they banded together to defend international
adoption from detractors who sought to outlaw the practice.
They had to learn from each other how best to raise their adopted
children. And so they shared a special kinship when they gathered
together.
In 1957 Harry and Bertha Holt invited adoptive families to a
sort of reunion on the Holt farm near Creswell, Oregon. That was
the beginning of an annual tradition that has grown and spread
around the United States. Families still get together at Holt picnics—to
share their adoption stories, admire each other’s children
and give their children a chance to play with other international
adoptees.
Adoptive family picnics are but one example of Holt’s life-long
commitment to international adoptees and their families. David
Kim, a former president of Holt, recognized the great value of
bringing adult adoptees back for a tour of their birth country.
These “Motherland Tours” enable adoptees to gain a firsthand appreciation
for their cultural heritage. Tours often bring the solace
that they were loved in their birth country and that adoption was
a necessity in their lives.
Top to bottom: Adoptees from several nations appear in
this photo from the 2002 Oregon Heritage Camp.
In collaboration with three other organizations, Holt
sponsored the first international conference for adult
Korean adoptees in 1999 in Washington, DC.
In this 1977 photo of one of the first Motherland Tours
to Korea, Bertha Holt appears in the center with David
Kim at far right.
For child welfare officials, staff and foster parents, the return
of confident, successful, well-educated adult adoptees is a strong
confirmation of the decisions they are making in the lives of children
today.
Dr. Kim’s first Motherland Tour brought adoptees back to Korea
in 1975. Since then over 3,000 adoptees have gone on similar
tours to Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, India and,
most recently, China.
In the early 1980s David Kim also developed a camp for young
adoptees. The original camps focused on cultural activities, but
some of the strongest benefits were long-lasting friendships between
international adoptees and the opportunity to benefit from
the experiences of more mature adoptee counselors.
In the 1990s Holt developed a collection of services to promote
a successful adoption and adjustment throughout the adoptee’s
life. Some of these “Post Adoption Services” include: referral
services for professional counseling, information searches for
medical or personal history, and searches to connect adoptees
with their birth relatives.
The Power of One, the Power of Many
by Gary N. Gamer, President and CEO
Holt staff recently celebrated the birthday of
Grandma Bertha Holt by telling stories of her life.
We remembered how she made all children feel special. We
remembered how she faithfully recorded prayer requests—and
God’s answers—in a simple notebook. We all knew Grandma
kept on praying until the person who made the request let her
know the prayer had been answered.
Anyone who met Bertha Holt sensed immediately the pureness
in her heart and actions. People resonated with this purity. It
drew out the best in all of us. And it enabled Holt International
to identify others with the same commitment to children across
national boundaries and cultures.
It drew in Susan Cox, an early adoptee from Korea, who joined
Holt’s Board of Directors at age 24. In 1993 she participated in
designing the Hague Convention of International Adoption Law.
Today she positively affects the lives of many people around the
world as Holt’s Vice President of Public Policy and External Affairs.
Susan says that the work she does to secure policies in the
best interest of the child is a direct reflection of the work initiated
by Bertha Holt some 50 years ago, when Bertha led the charge for
legislation enabling the adoption and immigration of the Holt’s
eight children from Korea.
David Kim was drawn in by the tough, tireless and compassionate
commitment he witnessed in Harry Holt. In the five decades
since David became Mr. Holt’s first hire in Korea, he has put his
faith into action as Holt’s Ambassador to the World.
Just last October, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Holt
Children’s Services of Korea, where Dr. Kim was honored with
the highest civilian award that can be conferred by the Korean
government. Dr. Kim took his unique ability to transcend culture
on behalf of children to many corners of the world.
Former Holt CEOs Jack Adams and John Williams worked closely
with Bertha Holt and David Kim. They were inspired to move
Holt International’s mission for every child to have a permanent,
loving home to new levels of professionalism and new geographic
areas. Along with Glen Noteboom, who worked for Holt in a
number of key capacities, they traveled with Grandma Holt to
many countries where Holt was called to set up programs. They
encountered individuals such as Acharn Darawan Dhamaruksa
in Thailand and
Mrs. Lata Joshi
in India. These
two visionaries
became leaders
of agencies in
their respective
countries—agencies
that are
unequalled in skill,
commitment and
service to children.
I think you are
getting the picture
here. The torch
has been passed to
many, the flames
have spread and
taken on fresh colors
and shapes through new people and new countries.
Each of these people I mentioned has displayed at least two essential
characteristics.
One is faith and the imperative the Almighty brings to this
mission. The Holts’ commitment to Jesus undergirded all that
they did. Such a strong belief requires action and gives hope even
under the most trying of circumstances.
Another is a commitment to children—particularly those who
are powerless—and an understanding that families are crucial for
every child to realize their God-given potential.
Each of the individuals I have mentioned would say that their
success was heavily dependent on others. They made an impact
only because of other’s compassion and commitment. Examples
include:
• the Filipino childcare worker who gives unqualified love
and care
• the government official who listens to that nagging little
voice within that says, “Yes, I can and should put this child
ahead of many other more visible and politically advantageous
interests.”
• the U.S. family or a business in China giving Holt financial
support to change the lives of many children
• foster parents in Romania or adoptive parents in India who
can make extra room in their hearts and home to create a
better future for a child
• the distant relative in Uganda who, with just minimal outside
support, can take in the orphan who lost her parents to
AIDS.
Engaging people of good will—and such people are everywhere—is
crucial to Holt International’s ability to make inroads in
addressing the global crisis of children outside of family care.
I thank all of you taking part in Holt’s mission to children.
Through your prayers, your dedication and your support, you
inspire me and others—just as Harry and Bertha Holt inspired others
in their time.
Left: Pat Keltie, long-time Holt social worker who served for many years as the
Director of Holt’s New Jersey office, holds the first child brought into Holt care in
Vietnam. File photo, 1973. • Above: Gary Gamer, Holt President and CEO, holds a
child in care at the Fengcheng orphanage nursery, Jiangxi Province, China 2005.
30 50th Anniversary 2006
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