I wanted to introduce you to a new non-profit that is making a difference in the lives of orphans in China. I live in Chappaqua with my husband and two daughters (ages 6 and 3). My youngest daughter was adopted from China.

Superkids was formed to help children in China who have special needs. Superkids brings pediatric therapists (physical, occupational, and speech therapists) to orphanages to work with the children, to train caregivers, and to bring equipment for improving the children’s physical and emotional health. The goals of the program are to help these children better their quality of life, as well as to make it easier to place them into permanent homes.

Superkids made its first trip to China in June, 2007. The first orphanage that Superkids visited was the Shanghai Children’s Home, where approximately 700 orphans, identified as special needs children, live. The founder and director of Superkids, Janet Fink, a Westchester mom who has adopted a child from the orphanage mentioned above, led the trip with two physical therapists, who volunteered their time and expertise. The team stayed in Shanghai for a week, working with the caregivers at the Home and with many of the children. They identified which children needed therapy and began to work with them. Staff members at the Home, eager to learn, were taught simple and fun ways to help the children’s development. The trip was a great success and Superkids was invited to return to this orphanage in the fall. The team will be bringing more equipment and therapists to continue this important work. By next summer, Superkids is planning to take this program into other orphanages throughout China.

There are many ways Scarsdale graduates can support this program. The most immediate need is for donations (Superkids is looking for private donations and corporate sponsorship) in order to ensure that these trips can continue and be expanded throughout China and, in the long term, to other countries. The donations, which are tax deductible, are used to pay for equipment for the children, and airfare and simple accommodations for the Superkids volunteers. Superkids is also looking for bright energetic high school or college students who would like to work as interns. The positions would include public relations and fundraising.

 If you want to donate, learn more about adopting a child from China or know of anyone who might be interested in an internship, please contact me at: [email protected].

To learn more about Superkids, please go to our website at:www.superkids.chinainitiative.org.

Please become a SAA member now or renew your dues today at www.scarsdalealumni.org and click on “join“