Hey everyone!
Its Michael Stagliano guest blogging today on Going After One...
Crazy excited to be writing about a HUGE opportunity that the big guy upstairs has put together. It is a profound and humbling thing to experience and makes me so excited to write these words as I write them.
Here's what happened:
I arrived in Columbus a few days ago staying with Chris and Julie Faulkner. We had been talking for some weeks about an orphan named Ryan in Eastern Europe who needs a home, and Julie and Chris have graciously and and selflessly set out to help him and get him into their home.
Ryan is 5 years old, diagnosed Noonan's Syndrome and has other special needs that are not being met in the institution that he is currently living in. This is time sensitive as conditions are NOT good over there and hopefully by the end of the Summer he will have a family and no longer be an orphan.
Today, January 8th, 2012 Chris and I were sitting in his family room talking about how to raise funds through my company Stesso Sports that tries to support people in need, and how to work with Graham Bunns' company 46NYC to help adopt Ryan...
That led me to call Graham who kept saying, "how ironic it is that I called him." While I had been having this conversation with Chris, Graham had been talking with his Board members and co-workers in 46, about setting up a concert on April 6th, 2012 (4/6), and how they wanted to help 1 person and make it personal. After hearing Ryan's story Graham decided to have the funds raised from this potential concert go towards financial aid for Ryan.
It costs $25,000 to get him home with the Faulkners and without mincing words...to save his life.
If you are in the NY area and can make it to this concert (still TBD) you will be helping save a child in need, and if you are not in the area you can donate by hitting the button to the right of this blog and that money will go directly to Ryan. NOT the company, not the Faulkner's but to a fund set-up to save him.
Times are tough and people are in need, and I understand that. Any amount helps and if you can't donate then please keep him your thoughts and prayers.
The big guy upstairs is pretty incredible. I wish you all were here to see the tears in our eyes after talking to Graham and being swept up in God's will.
If you haven't yet figured out what it's all about... It's about love.
Help us LOVE Ryan and get him saved.
163 Million orphans in the world:
We are going 4 1.
#lovelikethis
LOVE
Is this couple in Columbus, Ohio? I work for an adoption attorney. She is an expert in things like this. I'll bring this to her attention tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThis is great Michael. Had you never been on Bachleor Pad you would not have met Graham, etc.. God works miracles even when we don"t know it at the time.
ReplyDeleteChris and Julie--
ReplyDeleteBeing adopted myself this really touched me. It just shows what amazing people there are in the world and it's so refreshing to see. I will donate and pass this along to my friends. I have a blog myself and was planning on including pics from Michael's concert on it tomorrow, and now I will definitely include a link to your blog for my readers to see. Hopefully some will donate to this. I will be praying for you!
Katie
www.mykeepcalmandcarryon.com
How exciting! God is good! I will be praying!!!!
ReplyDeleteMichael and Graham, thank you so much for your oh-so-kind hearts. I love that God has spoken to both of you and has led you to do such good and change someone's life for the better (way better!) There needs to be more people like you in this world. God bless you all!
ReplyDeleteChris and Irene, you sound like 2 amazing people and I know Ryan is SO happy to have you in his life.
Amazing story. Chris and Julie, you will be in my prayers. I worked with orphans in Ukraine years ago and admire people like you. I pray that God will bless your family and home. Ryan will be in my prayers as well. I love how God works everything out according to His plan, even when we can't see it!
ReplyDeleteJust a follow up :) You 2 have inspired me to share my adoption story. If you want to read it go here: http://www.mykeepcalmandcarryon.com/2012/01/my-journey-adoption.html
ReplyDeleteI hope it leaves with you with some faith or inspiration.
Katie
Hey Chris and Julie! God's used the story of this adoption to really touch me. I've just written about you guys on my blog (hope you don't mind.) Feel free to check it out. Love and miss your family!
ReplyDeletehttp://hopeymag.blogspot.com
- Hope