While visiting an orphanage in Ukraine, Bob and Kathy Drane and their daughter Jessica fell in love with 22-month-old Olla and her twin sister Natasha and set out to adopt both girls. During the eight-month adoption process, Natasha developed pneumonia due to severe winter weather and inadequate conditions in the orphanage and died. "A little child died because no one cared enough to buy $10 worth of penicillin for her," said Kathy. "She died and I still see that little face." Driven by a profound desire to help those precious children they couldn't bring home, several adoptive parents approached Kathy and suggested, "There must be something we can do to help orphan children." So began the Hopeful Hearts Foundation, which was established in memory of Natasha. Since it was established in 2002, Hopeful Hearts has provided aid to thousands of children living in orphanages, hospitals, homeless shelters, and a transition home in Ukraine. We believe that God has truly blessed this Foundation, and there are no limits to what we can accomplish to improve the quality of life for orphan children. |
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