Set your sights on international treasures at Passport to Forever
By Karen Sparling
On Thursday, October 12, 2006, the sixth annual Passport to Forever, a luncheon and children's fashion show benefiting the International Adoption Center (IAC) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, will take place at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Cincinnati. The fundraiser is a multicultural celebration honoring internationally adopted children, their families and our community. This year, the theme will focus on Eastern Europe and will celebrate the cultures of this area of the world.
The event is presented by The Cooperative Society and Junior Cooperative Society. These wonderful auxiliary groups work within Cincinnati Children's to help families, patients and personnel. The fashion show will be presented by The Children's Place of Kenwood Towne Center.
All proceeds from the event benefit the IAC. Sustained funding is necessary to continue the IAC's growth and expansion of services to include mental heath, educational and learning services. The IAC is in the process of building a team to address emotional and psychological support for adoptive families as well.
This year's luncheon will feature guest speaker Kristina Dodson, who was adopted from St. Petersburg, Russia in 1994, a month before her 16th birthday. She has lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years and now helps other families unite from around the globe as a program coordinator for Families Thru International Adoption. She will share her life experience — how adoption has changed her life and her passion for helping to create forever families.
You won't want to miss out on our exciting Silent Auction. Plan to attend and bid on our many great items — including Corian countertops customized for your kitchen, a three-night stay in a gorgeous Montana cabin, a trip to Guatemala with Co-op for Education, a "behind-the-scenes tour" of the Cincinnati Zoo with Thane Maynard and other terrific items. Jewelry, handmade items and various gift cards will also be featured. We are very grateful to those who have already made generous donations — but we still need your help to make this event a success. Please consider donating an item or making a cash donation to support the silent auction. We are still in need of tickets to theater and sporting events, restaurant gift certificates and international items. This is a fun way to support the International Adoption Center. If you have items to provide or need information, please contact Sonya Zumbiel at 513-673-9360 or szumbiel@cinci.rr.com. Please notify us of your donation by September 15.
For the first time, the Passport to Forever will include a raffle. Tickets will be available during the event and at www.passporttoforever.com.
Three prize packages will be raffled. The first,"Passport to Jungle Fever," includes a night's stay at the Hyatt, brunch at Bella restaurant and two tickets to the Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Diego Chargers game on November 12. The "Passport to the Arts at the Aronoff" package includes two tickets to Monty Python's Spamalot at the Aronoff on Saturday, October 28, with dinner at Bella and a night at the Hyatt. The third package, "Passport to Winning Big at the Argosy," gives its winner dinner for two, entrance to the casino, a night's stay and brunch at the Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each or five tickets for $20 and can be sold to your families, friends and neighbors. Good luck!
For more information, visit www.passporttoforever.com or call 513-636-2877, opt.3.
