Holt International Children's Services: Difference between revisions

|leader_name = PhillipDan LittletonSmith<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.holtinternational.org/about/leadership.php|title=Leaders Trusted to Keep the Holt Promise}}</ref>

'''Holt International Children's Services''' ('''HICS''') is a faith-based humanitarian organization and [[adoption agency]] based in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], [[Oregon]], United States, known for [[international adoption]] and child welfare. The [[nonprofit]] works in thirteen countries, including: [[Cambodia]], [[China]], [[Colombia]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Haiti]], [[India]], [[Mongolia]], [[Philippines]], [[South Korea]], [[Thailand]], [[Uganda]], [[Vietnam]], and the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holtinternational.org/about/|title=Holt International - Holt International|website=www.holtinternational.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-23}}</ref> This work includes a range of services for children and families including efforts in nutrition, education, family strengthening, orphan care, foster care, family reunification, and child sponsorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holtinternational.org/|title=Holt International|website=www.holtinternational.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-23}}</ref> The organization's statestated mission is to seek a world where every child has a loving and secure home.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holtinternational.org|title=Holt International|website=www.holtinternational.org|language=en|access-date=2017-09-15}}</ref>

After seeing a documentary film about [[Korean War#.22G.I. Babies.22 and U.S. immigration law|"G.I. babies"]] of the [[Korean War]] in orphanages in [[Korea]], the Holts decided they would adopt some of the children who needed families.<ref name=Companion>{{cite book |last= Engeman |first= Richard H. |title= The Oregon Companion: An Historical Gazetteer of The Useful, The Curious, and The Arcane |url= https://archive.org/details/oregoncompanionh0000enge |url-access= registration |year= 2009 |publisher= [[Timber Press]] |location= [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]] |isbn= 978-0-88192-899-0 |page= [https://archive.org/details/oregoncompanionh0000enge/page/179 179]}}</ref> Harry began preparations to go to Korea, and Bertha asked a friend how to go about adopting eight children from another country. Learning that it would be possible only if both houses of [[United States Congress|Congress]] passed a law allowing it, Bertha Holt decided to push for such a law.<ref>Aeby, John (1999). "A Grandma for Thousands." ''Her Children Arise and Call Her Blessed'', p. 2</ref>

Two months later, the "[[Bill for Relief of Certain War Orphans|Holt Bill]]" was passed, and in October 1955, Harry Holt and eight children arrived at [[Portland International Airport]]. The resulting publicity stirred interest among many families in the United States. The Holts set about helping others to adopt, leading to the creation of the foundation. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/society/view/2021/11/1045324/|title='세계봉사상'에 빛난 홀트아동복지회 최악 불명예 직면|publisher=MK News}}</ref>

In the year 2000,<ref>"Bertha Holt" - [http://www.worldofchildren.org/honoree/bertha-holt/ WorldOfChildren.org]. Retrieved July 9, 2013</ref> Bertha Holt was awarded the Kellogg's Child Development Award from the World of Children Award for her work with the Holt International Children's Services.

{{reflistReflist}}

[[Category:1956International establishments in Oregonadoption]]