Holt International Children's Services: Difference between revisions

|name = Holt International Children's Services, Inc.

|leader_name = [[Phillip Littleton]]<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 and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holtinternational.org/|title=Holt International|website=www.holtinternational.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-23}}</ref> TheirThe organization's state 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 |year= 2009 |publisher= [[Timber Press]] |location= [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]] |isbn= 978-0-88192-899-0 |page= 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 said,Holt "Thendecided that'sto whatpush we'llfor dosuch 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, andleading whatto beganthe ascreation aof small operation run from Bertha's kitchen table in Creswell (and Harry's hip pocket in Korea) soon became a majorthe movementfoundation.