Orphans Tree Inc

Orphans Tree has been and continues to be a very important part of my life and in the lives of so many. For years, this organization has been instrumentally serving those whose hearts never knew they needed it. Orphans Tree changes the lives of not only the staff, children and young adults, but also the lives of common volunteers like me who partner with them. Orphans Tree is one of the very reasons that I've grown so much as a Christian. Learning to speak in love doesn't require a voice. It doesn't require you to know the native tongue. It requires love in action. Orphans Tree epitomizes the very example of love. Offering a safe space, a trustworthy staff, life-building programs, and integrating many visitors that come from miles away, ones who believe in the work of this ministry, is why so many Orphans Tree "grads" are so successful today. With the world hurting in so many ways right now, it brings comfort to know that this organization provides on-going support, guidance, prayer and love to all these young adults and families. I am honored to be a volunteer for Orphans Tree and I look forward to many future trips to continue building relationships with those who have become like family to me and to embrace the opportunity to make build new ones.

My son Gabriel had the opportunity to travel to Russia in Jan. 2022. He departed as an ordinary teenager. A senior in HS, excited about graduation, summer break and college. He came back as a different kid. The value of seeing life through the eyes of young men and women, not far from his age, was priceless. He forged lifetime friendships and found a 'family' he didn't know he had. A family that he would vigorously defend when the ridicule of Russia began at his school shortly after the war in the Ukraine began. Because now he knows that the sum of a country is far more than its leader. All because this ministry exposed him to 'the least of these' ... And that's a life lesson that you can't put a price on.

I traveled to Russia with Orphans tree on a mission trip to the Ministry Center in Russia. I reconnected with orphans I had met years before on previous trips to their orphanages and also was able to meet the wonderful staff members working at the Ministry Center. It was wonderful to see the many ways the programs offered to these young people at the Ministry Center were changing their lives, giving them a sense of family, and giving them hope for their future. The work this organization is doing in Russia is so important and I was just happy to be a small part of it.

I got to visit Orphan's Tree and see the unique staff and wonderful people they bring in. I loved getting to spend time with the kids they were ministering to. Orphan's Tree by far was amazing at creating a community that absolutely felt like family without skipping a beat. The staff were warm, helpful, loving, and caring.

I couldn't have been more grateful to be a part of the mission Orphan's Tree is working towards and get to witness how well they do what they do.

There's this sort of tension that comes with short-term missions: what difference can a team really make on a community in such a short amount of time? This is something I was constantly wondering as I prepared to go on my trip with Orphan's Tree. However, from the moment I arrived at the ministry center in Ivanovo, I could tell that there was a level of consistency and stability that the American team brought along. I began to understand why some of our team members traveled time and again to visit the grads in Ivanovo and other regions; we were welcomed into the CHOSEN family of the ministry. And chosen family can't be kept apart.

On the more practical side of things, Orphans Tree is very responsible and I'd highly recommend travel with them. They communicate clearly and well, and there were no moments of panic or wondering what was going on. They are thorough and organized in the best ways, and I cannot recommend them enough for the work they are doing.

I’m a lawyer and did not think about orphans until my American friend and colleague adopted a boy from Russia back in 1995. Two years later I visited my friend in USA, and her son was my tour guide. I was amazed by the transformation that had happened in him during his life in US. The boy had joyful and peaceful spirit, good manners and deep self-confidence, his ability to carry small talk with anybody amazed me deeply! His body and even face still had scars caused to him by his cruel and irresponsible biological parents but his soul had been healed and it was obvious that his life and future were very different from a typical orphan in Russia. At that time, I have checked statistic and discovered that not more then 10% of Russian orphans leaving the institution were able to become more or less successful in life without support, and my heart was in pain about the destiny of orphans not adopted and doomed to perish. One can only imagine my joy when I met people from Orphan’s Tree. It was a true response to my concerns! I was excited to discover that Orphan’s Tree provides comprehensive support to the young people who just have left their orphanages and are facing all of the challenges and hardships of independent life, for which they have not been prepared. This organization carries out comprehensive programs that equip disadvantaged youth with skills to manage personal finances, buy and cook food, take care of themselves, to be handy, to communicate effectively, to find jobs, build family relations, raise kids, continue education, etc. Orphan’s Tree operates in four regions of Russia where they’ve established Ministry Centers to this moment. Any orphanage graduate can come there with his/her need, problem, idea or dream and they would get loving support. There is a joinery, handicraft center and gym in Ministry Centers as well as a small farm. Orphan’s Tree often organizes meetings with remarkable people from local communities and tours to interesting places, museums and theaters, among many other things they do. All these efforts reap wonderful results and I’m delighted to see many orphans achieve their dreams, become responsible young people with higher cultural and spiritual values.
I love seeing joyful happy faces of former orphans involved into Orphan’s Tree programs. Practically all of them got permanent jobs while some have even built their own business, impressing their friends with their own success stories. Even orphans with special needs are able to achieve stability in their life, lead healthy lives and enjoy respect of their communities with the support of Orphan’s Tree. I am currently serving on Orphan’s Tree board, and consider it a great honor and privilege for me!

I have witnessed a great impact that Orphan's Tree has on lives of Russian orphans and would like to highly recommend this organization. What impresses me most about Orphan's Tree is how many programs they offer (life skills, peer to peer mentoring, career guidance, sewing, woodshop, young family program and others) to serve each individual needs and break the cycles of poverty and orphanhood.

Sincerely,
Nikita Sorokin

For more than 10 years the charitable organization "Orphan's Tree" has been conducting programs of assistance to Russian orphanage graduates. During this time we have been closely cooperating in implementation of such programs as Young Family, Mentorship, Leader and others. After leaving orphanages older orphans have hard times starting to live on their own, and they need to know that there are organizations and people who are ready to lend them a helping hand for successful integration into society. Orphan's Tree support is very important to us, as it gives hope that together we can change the lives of many orphanage graduates for the better.

I have traveled two times to Russia to participate in the ministries of Orphans Tree. The acquaintances made with the young people and the excellent staff who serve them has been life impacting. Orphans Tree provides more than social services, it creates total life involvement. A more than worthy nonprofit! Highest praise and recommendations!

I have come to understand and support the mission of The Orphan's Tree over the past few years. I am extremely impressed by the compassion and love extended to teens in Russia who have aged out of foster care or orphanages and now must find their place in the world. From what I have seen and learned so far, the staff of the organization and the Russian ministries are the guardian angels and mentors of young people who benefit from instruction, advice, but most importantly, the love that they may have missed in childhood and young adulthood. The interest in the well-being of the young people, even through marriage and family, is extraordinary, on both sides of the world, with relationships that span decades. I believe this is a unique organization and deserving of support.

Young orphans are not well prepared to navigate the world on their own, especially after graduation from an orphanage and finding themselves all on their own. They lack many basic life skills, guidance to make right decisions, and insights about the opportunities available to them. I have been involved with Orphan’s Tree for over 15 years and witnessed first hand the great programs that Orphan’s Tree set to help young Russian orphans find their way in life, and feel a little bit less alone. I especially appreciate the programs where orphans become mentors for other orphans and participate in volunteer projects. I have watched Orphan’s Tree become not just a remarkable support network but also “family” for these young people. This is truly a great organization doing fantastic work helping orphan graduates find their way in the real world!

The founder of Orphans Tree, George Steiner, has been a friend for nearly 50 years. OT has a long and storied success working with orphans in Russia, those who are often discarded and disregarded by society. Orphans Tree has a dedicated staff of Russian nationals who do excellent and heartfelt work on a daily basis. The impact on individual lives has been remarkable, and many former orphans now work in the organization in Russia. Check out Orphans Tree here - https://orphanstree.org/. You can trust this organization and its leadership.

I spent time with a TRUE and REAL Christian who has impacted not only countless orphans’ lives, but impacted change at the government level. When you “ask” yourself “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD)? The person of this ministry is changing the world. They need to do a “Being Wise” NPR interview AND write a book. I was inspired and floored hearing parts of their decades long story and inspiring the creation of this ministry and living it. Talk about loaves and fishes; God is blessing the fruit of this person’s work. If you disdain Christians or avoid them or are skeptical… This is genuine. If you think your Christianity is being attacked, see what Orphan’s Tree impact is. If you feel like something is missing in this broken world, someone is actually doing something about it. Is there anything like this for USA unwanted kids of all types and heritages and religions and dreamers, etc…

I hear “Save the Children” a lot (or used to…) This ministry IS DOING that GENERATIONALLY!! YOU want to know more of the amazing things that Orphan’s Tree is doing. Actually go to the websites and Facebook pages. See what’s happening there!!

Greeting, everyone ������
My name is Ekaterina. I grew up in Galich orphanage in Russia. When I was 17 years old, I had to leave the orphanage and went to Kostroma to study at a technical school. Everything was new to me: the city, the school, people, ways of life. I had no one who I could trust and who to go to for help or advice. But I was blessed to learn about the programs that Orphan’s Tree was running there for young people like me. I regularly visited Orphan’s Tree ministry center where I met many friends, and where I found acceptance, care, love and support from the ministry staff. I’m especially grateful to them for believing in me! Their support helped me to grow up and to start my small manicure business, and earlier this year - even expand it. This is a great and trustworthy organization that helps young people who grew up without a family and without love. What they do is a lot of hard work and requires great hearts. I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful people who followed God’s call to help orphans in my country.

Всем привет ������
Меня зовут Екатерина. Я выпускница школы-интернат г. Галич. Когда мне исполнилось 17 лет, я выпустилась из детского дома и переехала в Кострому учиться в лицее. В то время все было для меня новое и незнакомое: город, лицей, люди, новый образ жизни. Я не знала, кому доверять и к кому можно обратиться за помощью и советом. Мне повезло, что я узнала про программы Орфанз Три для таких молодых людей как я. В центре поддержки я встретила много друзей, а сотрудники приняли меня с любовью и заботой. Я особенно благодарна им за то, что они поверили в меня! Вся эта поддержка помогла мне вырасти и создать своё дело - маникюрный салон, а в этом году даже его расширить. Орфанз Три - надежная организация, которая помогает молодым людям, которые выросли без семьи и без любви. Это огромный труд и чтобы его делать, нужно иметь большое сердце. Я всегда буду благодарна этим замечательным людям, которые последовали Божьей воле помогать сиротам в моей стране.

On numerous trips over the years to ministry centers, Dacha projects and other efforts, and in keeping in close contact with the dedicated folks who run OT here in the U.S. and in Russia, I've consistently witnessed true love and pure religion (Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1-27). I can not think of a more devoted team, or frankly, family, to wish on these wonderful young people, and am exceptionally pleased to support in every way I can. I encourage you to, as well!

Orphan's Tree meets a most critical need, and they meet it well. Young, institutionalized people, aging-out of Russian orphanages, instead of having to just fend for themselves, are welcomed like family by caring, loving people, smart programs, and warm facilities. Their dedicated staff, often with the help of volunteers from America, are there for them when they most need, and stay with them like uncles and aunts, through those critical times of establishing their place in their local communities, and the broader world that awaits them. Some need a lot of ongoing help, their backgrounds before and during orphanage life having had great impact. Some have survived the system a little more unscathed, but cultural stigmas and stereotypes work against them, too, and so a little guidance through initial adventures as independent young adults can make all the difference.

Excellent organization committed wholeheartedly to the needs of the individuals and the communities in which they serve.

I have been an admirer and an avid follower of this organization for several years. Their constant commitment to putting orphans well being first has been their core mission. Watching and seeing their hard work first hand, I decided this year to start sponsoring their work to continue to improve the life of the young people they serve. Sometimes it is not enough to preach the gospel, you need to do the work of the teaching and that is what Orphans Tree does! I am proud to be part of this incredible organization!

My husband and I became donors a few years ago because Orphan's Tree is a wonderful and unique ministry doing such great work. I think the mission of helping young adults is so extremely important, and Orphan's Tree is fulfilling that mission. Love that we can support such a great ministry!!

Меня зовут Алексей. Я являюсь владельцем компании Трейд Пластик - предприятие по переработке вторсырья. Мы уже несколько лет дружим с фондом Мы Вместе (НКО, которую поддерживает Орфанс Три в России), вместе участвуем в различных проектах. В настоящий момент на Трейд Пластик работают 6 выпускников детских домов. Ребятами я доволен на 100%, очень верные и ответственные люди, большая редкость собрать хороший коллектив. Именно благодаря им я узнал о существовании Центра поддержки выпускников в Костроме. Я с ребятами – участниками программ Центра поддержки ежемесячно навещаю насельников местного дома престарелых. Два года подряд я проводил экскурсию для участников лагеря для первокурсников на Трейд Пластик. Так я познакомился с Джорджем Стайнером – президентом Орфанс Три и волонтерами из церкви Ковенант в штате Колорадо. Мне было удивительно и радостно, что люди из другой страны так заботятся о сиротах в России. Среди волонтеров у меня теперь есть хорошие знакомые. С ними всегда интересно общаться, есть чему поучиться. Я благодарен волонтерам из Орфанс Три за заботу о наших детях и подростках, за то, что делятся своим временем и любовью с выпускниками, которым она действительно нужна!

My name is Alexey and I am the owner of Trade Plastic, a recycling business. I have been friends with Together Fund (Orphan’s Tree NGO in Russia) for several years, taking part in different projects. Currently, six orphanage graduates are working at Trade Plastic. I am 100% pleased with their work, as they are loyal and responsible employees; it is a great fortune to be able to put together a good team. Thanks to these orphanage graduates, I found out about the Ministry Center in Kostroma. Together with the MC program participants I visit the residents at a local nursing home for the elderly every month. For the past two years, I welcomed participants of the Orientation Camp for a tour around Trade Plastic. That’s how I met George Steiner – President of Orphan’s Tree – and volunteers from Covenant Church in Colorado. I was surprised, yet happy to learn that people from another country have been taking such good care of orphans in Russia. Now I have good friends among these volunteers. It is always a joy to interact with them, I can learn from them. I am grateful to the volunteers from Orphan’s Tree for their care for our children and teenagers, for their sharing their time and love with the orphanage graduates, who really need it!

There are a number of reasons I respect Orphan’s Tree as a nonprofit organization. Orphan’s Tree works hard to develop programs and provide assistance that is timely and relevant to challenges faced by Russian orphan graduates. They do a great job recruiting and preparing volunteers who go on their trips, and their Russian staff members are both bright and compassionate.

I have been connected to Orphan's Tree in Russia for the past two decades and have had the privilege of working with and befriending many of the Russian staff, volunteers and orphan graduates it serves. OT's dedication to providing essential services and care for this vulnerable population of young people is done in both a practical and compassionate manner. The local staff identify the unique physical and emotional needs of the orphan graduates and equip them with life skills to not only survive but thrive in their communities. I have participated in week-long training camps, regional ministry center events and home visitations to witness first-hand the positive impact OT is making in Russia and beyond. These experiences have changed my life!

Orphan's Tree is the best nonprofit I have worked with in my 50+ years of doing volunteer work. I have been a volunteer with orphan's tree for the last 11 years. They meet a great need among young orphans in Russia, provided exceptional support for volunteers joining them in Russia, operate very efficiently, and have a superior long term staff. Their programs effectively respond to real needs of both orphans and volunteers, including this year's great series of zoom meetings during the coronavirus pandemic. I recommend Orphan's Tree to any donor or volunteer as a wise investment of your time and money.

I have traveled with Orphan's Tree since 2009. In the past 11 years I have had the opportunity to work closely with their staff and program participants and grow deep, meaningful relationships with them. I have watched at families have overcome obstacles in marriages and parenting young children. I have laughed with, cried with and prayed with young men and women who come to the Ministry Centers in search of help and hope. Through the dedication and love of the staff they have discovered both of those things which they so desperately desired. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Orphan's Tree family.

Orphan’s Tree is a nonprofit organization that is transforming the lives of older orphans, and those who partner with them. I have had the privilege of traveling to Russia three times with this ministry and I love how they partner with and support the local staff who are engaging these students on a daily basis. With a constant presence in Russia, Orphan’s Tree continues to deepen the relationships it has built with students over the years. Through constant love and compassion Orphan’s Tree is helping kids who are lost find a place of belonging. After coming home from my most recent trip to Kostroma I had the privilege of preaching at our church and sharing about our time at the ministry center. If you’d like to hear more you can find the sermon here: https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-m38u2-bf94fa

I had the awesome opportunity to be part of our church missions team from Kentucky go to Kostroma, Russia through Orphan's Tree Ministry. What I learned from the staff and orphans has been phenomenal. They welcomed us and allowed us to be part of their lives and work along side of them for the week we were with them. I have been forever changed by this experience and know that our team has also been changed. May God bless this ministry and all that they do. Thank you for allowing us to be the hands and feet of Christ for the few short days we spent with everyone. Missing our Russian friends!!

This nonprofit has at its heart the welfare of each orphan graduate. They are equipping as many orphans as they can for life outside the orphanage. From simple budgeting tasks to actual activities that will help them survive. Orphans Tree provides hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. Probably the biggest service Orphans Tree provides is a family. They surround each orphan grad with loving acceptance, assistance, and a "place at their table". We hope to continue working with this great nonprofit organization.

I have volunteered with Orphans Tree since 2011, visiting a ministry center in Russia each year. Over the course of those years, I have learned to know many of the staff, both in the U. S. and in Russia, and some of the board members past and present and can say without reservation that each one that I have met has been dedicated to excellence in the way that they work in the organization and especially in how the ministry to older orphans is conducted in Russia. It is very easy to lose focus in this sort of work with its obstacles and difficulties and to look at easier spheres in which to operate, but Orphans Tree has stayed the course and kept the focus it needs to continue its valuable ministry. I have been encouraged by this dedication to the work, and plan to continue to volunteer with Orphans Tree for the foreseeable future.

I have been particularly impressed with the care that is taken to make sure that volunteer trips are well-organized, very well planned and carefully budgeted. This is especially evident in the case of contingencies that come up from time to time, and which need to be handled immediately. There is no truer test of a plan than to adapt it under pressure to rapidly changing circumstances. Medical emergencies, transportation breakdowns, last-minute schedule changes, misplaced passports, sudden shutdowns of hotels, and so forth; I have experienced some of these myself or with others and have seen them handled with grace and skill by the staff on the ground. The trip budgets are generally very accurate and are planned with some buffer for contingencies as well.

On a trip this past winter, I was invited to participate in a meeting discussing how the ministry centers can do more to engage the young men who come to the centers. Then, I traveled a second time to Russia in early June to help with running a sports camp for young men, which was one of the ideas that had come from that meeting. Getting a small glimpse into "how the sausage gets made" has cemented my appreciation for this organization, for the integrity and dedication of its staff, and for the way that it operates.

I was introduced to this non-profit through our Chaplin at Shalom Christian Academy, John Smith. He spoke to chapel of his association with Orphan's Tree and it's mission. It interested me three years ago when I first heard of the group and was so blessed to make a trip to Ivanovo this summer from June 6-15.
I was involved in the English Camp group which was super well organized and planned out with thorough lessons....thanks to Sue Marshall. All the Ministry Center volunteers were friendly, kind, and welcoming. The translators were super and very patient with us. The trip and experience were a blessing to me.

I was amazed how much my trip to Russia through Orphans Tree affected my life. We were there to build relationships with the orphan grads. Not only did we do this, but we also built relationships with the center staff and our translators. Some of these relationships will be lasting.
I am thankful the God adopts all of us into his family. Ephesians 1: 4-5 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do , and it gave him great pleasure. Russia, US, Canada, etc.....we are a part of his family.
Thank you Orphans Tree for this experience.

I have traveled through the this nonprofit organization on 3 different occasions working with Russian orphans.
I am very pleased with how this organization is run and the cooperation with the staff in the U.S. and in Russia.
The main goal is to bring the orphans in to a facility where they know they can get help from people who care about them. Having someone they can rely on through Orphans Tree is important as these orphans have been treated poorly and tossed aside in their culture.
I have seen so much positive feedback from these kids from the help that has been given.
Truly a much needed organization!!
I look forward to continuing to work with Orphans Tree now and in the future

Orphan's Tree supported a team of 15 individuals who ran an English language camp and a young men's camp in Ivanovo, Russia. The English camp had about 14 participants and the young men's camp had about 16 participants. The purpose of the young men's camp was to help prepare these young adults to make healthy lifestyle decisions while building relationships among the participants and with the team members. The entire trip was extremely well planned, and the translators and administrators at the center in Ivanovo were incredibly bright, dedicated, and caring. The one word I'd use to describe the experience was nurturing. The orphans watched out for each other in a very loving, caring way, and the staff there was very nurturing in their devotion to the young adults in their care and the entire Russian "family" that we worked with went out of their way to take care of us as a team and to encourage us, coach us, feed us, and to help us explore Russian culture in hopes of blessing us as much as we tried to bless them.

Spanning Oceans

Spanning oceans
is as easy as learning to say hello,
as easy as sharing an awkward smile,
and as easy as reaching out
and taking hold of hands
you've never held before
forming a bridge
that spans an ocean.

Dean Smith
Summer 2019
Ivanovo, Russia

Wow! What an opportunity! From minute one of day one....a fabulous experience! The staff, the other mission team members, the staff, the orphans...off the charts awesome!
That tells you I had a great time, but what I saw and experienced made it real! The planning, the investment, the leadership , the attention to detail....all that coupled with care, compassion, flexibility and constant exposure to new things. Orphan's tree didn't just invite me to come and give, they invested in me..gave me opportunity after opportunity to engage the orphans and the staff at the ministry center and the dacha and to learn. The interpreters were very competent and attentive. They were always present but not in an "in the way" manner. So helpful, patient and willing to teach! They knew I needed help before I did and would mysteriously show up on my left shoulder or at my right elbow and were ready to assist. The MC staff were on top of things....food prep, scheduling, classes, trips, etc. We had great conversations about their perspective on everything from Russian life to Religion. I've got the orphans in my heart and on my prayer list. My heart is with each one. I hope to see them each again, but I may never be able to, so with tears of loss and joy, all in one, I lift them to the Father. Such beautiful growing men and women with unique backgrounds that will help design and construct their future.

I'll conclude this by saying, I left part of my soul in Russia and I carry about 30 new people in my heart...16 of them are orphans by earthly standards but they've a great Father above that knows them personally and Orphan's Tree made it possible for me to meet them. Spasibo!

I traveled with Orphans Tree to the Kostroma Ministry Center, to work at the Graduates Camp for kids coming out of Orphanges or the Foster System to go College or Technical school. This is my second trip... I’m always amaze how something seems to happen that says yes I’m glad I came. I want to focus on one of these... the connections we make... This year I got to reconnect with a couple of kids I connected with last year. One of the Boys had really gotten involved with volunteering his time... I was really please and proud of him for the volunteer work he had been doing through the Ministry Center, however I also found out that he had struggle his first year at school... Missing a lot of classes! The team at Ministry Center is amazing and is always there for the kids and have come along side to make some suggestions to him about returning to the orphange for a year to give him time to regroup. But he chose to move to a different Tech school. I got to talk with him about his volunteer work and how proud I was of him and how I had been hearing good things about him. But I also was able to talk with him about the importance of school and balancing his time between volunteering and getting his school work done. At first he seemed a little defensive... he’s the type that doesn’t like to be told what to do, however I made the comment that I knew he could do much better and he relaxed and agreed. I promise him I would check up on how he was doing and he was receptive to this and seemed happy that I would do so. I think he was happy to know that some one else cared... The point... nurturing connections we have made... it’s these little connections we make that I hope that God will use to change these kids lives... to draw them to Himself.

At Orphan’s Tree I’ve consistently found incredible, compassionate, dedicated, kind and loving volunteers who freely and generously give of their time, talents and resources to help young orphans in Russia.

Orphan's Tree is a wonderful nonprofit making a huge impact in the lives of Russian Orphans. I have had the privilege of volunteering with Orphan's Tree in two of the ministry centers and it was a life changing experience. I had no idea how much they do for the young adults who have grown up in orphanages. I fully support them and am currently in the process of planning another trip with them!

Orphan's Tree Ministry is a perfect outreach for my husband and I to partner with. We both grew up in large families and know the value of children and community. Although, we've never traveled to Russia, there are plenty of ways to be involved with Orphan’s Tree locally. It is a grass roots ministry where they know us by name and in turn, they know and care for our family. We share the global vision that every child is worthy of love! Orphan's Tree is committed to loving children well!

My husband and I just returned home from a trip to Russia with Orphan’s Tree. From the beginning of planning nearly a year ago until now, our experience has been wonderful. Not only do we believe we completed the purpose of the trip, to support staff at Orphan Tree’s Ministry Center’s acclimate aging-out orphans to their new home in a large city technical school, but we felt very prepared for the trip’s potential challenges. Conference calls with our more experienced team members, numerous emails from the CEO, articles and books provided by a board member all helped us prepare our minds and hearts for the trip. Finally, the last couple days of the trip provided us with the opportunity to tour Moscow, eat traditional food, and see the Kostroma Ballet! The only unknown about our trip is how the young people we met will respond to the opportunity to complete school If they all do well, I will feel this trip has been perfect. Our hope is that we will get the chance to travel with Orphan’s Tree on a regular basis.

I recently traveled to the Kostroma Ministry Center to help with the orientation camp. My favorite part was making crafts with the teens. It was fun to discover that Russian teens are a lot like me and my friends. We spent time teaching the teens how to spend their money wisely, have good hygiene and cook. I'm glad I got to go and I would love to go back again!

This organization reaches vulnerable young adults as they are thrust into the world as they age out of Russian orphanages with few skills to navigate. They provide support, training and love so that the orphans will not feel alone.

I went on a mission trip with this organization and the work they did was amazing. Kids come out of orphanages never having made a meal or a dentist appointment. There's no place for them to go to learn basic life skills. Orphan's Tree guides them and gives them a safe place. These young adults are loved and accepted by Orphan's Tree. It was fun to see the amazing success stories that come from their work. I can't imagine an organization spending their money more wisely. They truly put their heart in to their work and make a difference in the lives of orphans and that impacts future generations as well. Your support will make these kids better parents, more employable and happier, healthier members of society.

I went on a young mom’s trip with Orphan’s Tree to help young Russian mothers, who were orphaned themselves, not repeat the cycle of abandonment. Being a young mom is hard under the best of circumstances. Orphan’s Tree helps young moms by coming alongside them and teaching them practical skills of everyday life, such as shopping, cooking, budgeting, and how to love well. They are changing lives for generations to come!

Orphans Tree is a great organization. Their staff is the best very friendly and helpful. Orphan tree gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I absolutely loved my trip to Russia. The work they are doing in Russia is great. They are giving kids the opportunity to make something of their lives. The kids are so appreciative! Keep up the good work

I totally enjoyed my second trip to Russia with Orphans Tree ministry. Our mission was to teach English to Orphan grads and build relationships with the grads and our team and encourage involvement with the ministry centers. You couldn’t help but be impressed with the grads’ interest and determination to learn English. Some even gave up their break times for extra practice with fellow students. Equally impressive is the dedication of the staff of each of the ministry centers to the success of their students. I love how they talk of their students’ accomplishments with great pride and take every opportunity to build up the grads within their hearing. The dedication of this staff is evident in their passion when they talk about the programs that their centers offer and when they talk about their dreams of the future. You come home from these trips with not only love for thé grads that you have worked with but also for the staff that pours their lives into these young people day after day.

God's love transcends any language barrier or cultural difference. That became very evident on a recent mission trip several of us took to Russia to serve young adults who have aged out of Russia's orphanage system.

Working alongside the former orphans, spending time with them, sharing photos, exchanging thoughts and ideas, eating and sightseeing with them, we formed bonds that span the ocean. The young people we spent time with ranged from age 17 to about 30.

The trip left an indelible impression. To see Christ's love at work in and through my travel companions, as well as the young adults, translators, and the nonprofit organization we worked with (Orphan's Tree) was a blessing beyond measure.

It was exciting to see firsthand what Orphan's Tree does in Russia, and the young lives being impacted. Orphan's Tree focuses on the needs of orphans in Russia at the critical time when they age out of orphanages and begin to transition into adulthood. You can see God's hand at work through the organization. What an amazing experience! I came home from Russia filled with thoughts, impressions and the desire to return someday.

I recently heard a friend say, "out of so many needs in this world, my heart still goes out to orphans." Here in America, we don't think of orphans anymore. And we don't think of orphans who were never adopted. In Russia, they still have orphanages, and they have orphans who are not adopted. Wow, the hurt of these poor people. Orphan's Tree helps these late-teenager/early-adult orphans by helping them adjust to the real world. I am so impressed with Orphan's Tree. They help these boys and girls learn social skills, how to find jobs, how to be a parent, and more. I am thoroughly impressed with this organization and their niche. I have volunteered for this ministry and continue to be amazed at how the lives of these unadopted orphans have turned around because of Orphan's Tree. Thank you for caring, Orphan's Tree.

I went with a team to Russia this past summer where we interacted with young adults who had grown up in Russian orphanages. We led seminars on entrepreneurship and family life, painted a room, insulated a small building, worked in a garden, helped with animal husbandry at a sheep farm and wool mill, and gave out shoes and clothing. Most important, we spent quality time establishing friendships and getting to know the needs of these wonderful and promising young people who have no family support to get them started towards productive and happy lives as adults. The trip was extremely well-organized, educational, enjoyable, and fulfilling.

I just got back from a two week experience visiting the orphanages and ministry centers that Orphans Tree supports, and cannot express how impressed I am with their entire staff. It's inspiring and encouraging to see God working through these people, and I can't wait to go back next summer to continue to support the ongoing work that is happening through Orphans Tree. They are truly changing lives, and I'm thankful I was able to witness that firsthand.

After traveling with Orphans Tree, I cannot recommend this organization more. They are faithful, detailed and thoughtful in their work with older orphans. I was privileged to get to join the work they are doing to support young people in Russia as they age out of the system at 15. Their staff, both stateside and abroad are conscientious and dedicated. I had the chance to offer from my area of expertise and learn so much about the history, people and stories of Russia.

I had a fabulous experience with Orphan Tree! My team and I had the opportunity to visit three ministry centers in Vladimir, Ivanovo, and Kostroma. We had lots of opportunities to interact with the Orphan Graduates and to learn and share with them. It was amazing to hear about all the experiences. Though many of their backgrounds are difficult, it was clear that Orphan Tree and the various Ministry Centers were a great influence on their lives. For many of them, they considered the Ministry Centers like a home, with people who could give them love and guidance.

Its exciting to see all the great things that Orphan Tree is doing! I hope that I can partner with Orphan Tree again in the future!

I was blessed with the opportunity to work with Orphans Tree during my winter break between semesters. During my time in their three ministry centers in Vladimir, Ivanova, and Kostroma I was able to witness true servant leadership from the staff in all regions. The heart they have for the grads and kids they work with is truly humbling and I was honored to be a part of their work for 12 days during my stay. The grads I talked to were extremely grateful for the opportunities they had through Orphans Tree and the skills they had been taught throughout their time there. What was even more encouraging were the grads who themselves became involved in the local programs to mentor incoming grads and kids in the centers in true disciplship. I'm hopeful to one day continue working with Orphans Tree and would encourage anyone who has the opportunity in the future to participate in the program yourself.

My last trip to Russia with Orphan's tree was amazing. I was able to see God move in the three different ministry centers we visited. He moved, in part, because of the time, effort, and hard work that Orphan's Tree staff put into our visit. In each ministry center we were able to meet Orphan Grads with unique stories and challenges, they all were inspiring. The Grads were all very thankful for all the work that Orphan's tree is doing to journey alongside them as they learn life skills and meet physical needs. Orphan's Tree is a great organization doing amazing things.

I just recently returned to the US from Russia. I cannot even begin to describe the immense gratitude I have towards Orphan's Tree for the truly amazing trip. I got to experience the most wonderful people in three very unique but equally inspiring regions. In each region the orphan graduate inspired me with their life stories through their hard work, determination to have better lives and their joy in the families they have created with their care givers, visitors and friends. I know my life has been changed for the better based on the people I have met and I truly hope to have the opportunity to travel with Orphan's Tree in the future. My heart hurts for the graduates in Russia who are looking for love and friendships with the people around them and the work Orphan's Tree is providing some help for their cause.

I recently took a trip to the three regions that Orphan's Tree works in to get an overview of who they are and what they do. Coming from the US and having worked with several other similar organizations, what I was most impressed with was the quality of the staff at each of the locations that we visited. You could just tell that the staff truly cares for the young adults that they work with and also truly love what they do. It is also quite evident to me that as OT has grown and expanded, it has been important to them that everything be done with excellence. So I was very impressed with everything that I saw and can definitely say they are a great non-profit!

I traveled to three regions throughout Russia alongside of Orphan's Tree several weeks ago. Orphan's Tree is as good as non-profit organizations get. Their philosophy of ministry is one that other NPOs should look to for counsel. Their labor is effective, visible, and tangible. This quickly became apparent with each orphan "graduate" I interacted with that used the ministry centers as a place of respite. Russia is a better place because of Orphan's Tree.

I am a Registered Nurse and traveled with Orphans Tree to Russia this summer. The positive impact on the lives of young adults who are leaving orphanages to attend technical training schools is evident. The Orphans Tree ministry centers teach important life skills that facilitate the transition to life in a new location. The young adults learn about budgeting, local transportation, healthy and economical meal preparation and healthy lifestyle choices. In addition the ministry centers provide an ongoing community, and source of emotional support that encourages and enables students become successful adults. This organization provides a life changing experience for the young adults who attend the ministry centers as well as the participants who serve. I plan on supporting and serving with Orphans Tree in the future.

I have 25 years in the non-profit, Christian sector, 6 years of which were in the international relief and development work. When I was invited to join a team going to Russia with Orphans Tree, my expectations were low because I know the difficulty in reaching across cultures and making a true difference. What I experienced, however, was an authentic relationship with Russians who were already "doing the work". Our role was to assist them, offer what talents we have, and support their work. This was very different than some mission trips that go with their own agenda or (worse) give you busy work to make you feel good. When it was time to go, I knew that the older orphans had a support system, if they choose to use it. I knew they had people who genuinely cared for them and would act as "family", should they want that. All this speaks to the idea of Hope. -- Specifically, the orphans arrived from their various orphanages across the region one afternoon, a week before their tech school started. Many were sad, scared, disoriented, and mostly untrusting. By the end of our time, they had learned how to use a bus, how to shop and cook a meal, how to budget their monthly stipend, how to get to the Orphans Tree dacha, and how to practice safety. We laughed a lot, ate a lot, and learned to communicate. "Trust" is something that they may learn over their lifetime, and I know how to pray for them now that I'm home. -- The ministry center where we met offered regular dental care as well as after-school opportunities. There was even a fledgling start-up of a mentor's program that linked older orphans in the tech schools with the new students just arriving. What impressed me was the depth of the Orphans Tree ministry in its short lifetime and the promise of growth because of its indigenous nature. -- Personally, I found the Russian people to be warm and extremely gracious. If we were ever uncomfortable, it was only because we were served multiple-course meals and we had no more belt holes to loosen. I loved listening to their personal stories spanning the last 50 years, all of which were humbling and difficult. I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than me. -- I would include some photos but I'm a lousy photographer.

I travelled to Russia with Orphans Tree and they are doing amazing work with young people that have been raised in an orphanage. Literally saving lives!

Went with OT on a pastors' vision trip, to get an idea of their ministry in Russia with orphans who've graduated/aged out of state orphanages. The trip went flawlessly, from my perspective. Excellent leadership all around - interesting, engaging, meaningful spiritual and practical work done in helping those with no family find their way. I'd go again in a heartbeat and will certainly make the OT organization, their work and their staff in Russia part of our family (and hopefully church) mission giving and praying. No regrets - no critiques. All-around great leadership and ministry.

I recently was able to work with Orphans Tree Inc. I was thrilled with my experience. The Orphans Tree office was helpful in answering all my questions prior to my trip, someone from the staff was with me as I traveled and there was follow up upon my arrival home. All the arrangements were in place down to the transportation schedule while traveling in Russia. Each step of my journey was documented so I knew what to expect, who I would be working with and where I would be staying. I appreciated the conference calls and planing by one of the staff prior to my trip. I have worked with other non-profits previous to this experience and I can say that I look forward to working with this organization again.

I have been a part of Orphan tree for approximately 14 years. The work that is being done by this organization is amazing. Their love for the kids and their well being goes above and beyond any ones expectation. They care on a very personal level that is the difference. Lives are being changed and you can see that in the updates and photos. Everyday something new is happening and it is all positive and exciting!

I like this nonprofit! They do great and necessary work helping orphan graduates to make their way in the big life. Very often when kids who have no parents go out to the adult life get lost very easily. There are so many traps and temptations for one who starts to live an independent life, that there are no doubts that those who help in understanding of this life do really great work! This is exactly what this nonprofit does! I would strongly encourage any one who wants to help young adults with no parents to make their first steps in big life join the Orphans Tree and find out how you can help.

I have been involved with various different Nonprofit over the years but I can truly say Orphans Tree has been one of the best Ministries I have ever been associated with or served with.

Serving the needs of the Orphan graduates in Russia is a huge issue in Russia with over 800,000 Orphans in that country. The Ministry is focused on helping these orphans through various different programs staffed by Russian citizens who are passionate about helping their Orphans. The Russian orphan is literally labeled on their citizenship ID as a ORPHAN. Talk about having two strikes against you before you even get up to the plate ! They are treated as second rate citizens and have very limited opportunities in a country with limited opportunities to begin with. They have in most cases not had the loving, compassionate care of a mother or father from birth. have spent their entire childhood going from one institution to another. They are then thrown out into the streets of very Harsh world and then what ? In most cases being ill equipped in almost all ways of this world, they do whatever they have to do to survive, from prostitution, crime and drugs to suicide unfortunately in many cases.

Orphans tree is all about giving these young adults a chance, some HOPE that there is a reason to live in this world. To help them focus on their future rather than a past that they never had any control over. I am passionate about this Ministry because it is a PASSIONATE ministry. From offering Psychological services and mentoring young single mothers, a dacha program where young adult orphans can get engaged in outdoor activities like farming vegetables to caring for animals. Just two programs amongst many that focus on the immediate needs of these many desperate young adults involved in desperate situations.

If someone is looking to serve others who truly need their help it's a great Ministry to get involved with !

I first met George Steiner, president of Orphans Tree, in 2000, and since then my wife and I have been involved in numerous short term mission trips working with orphans in Russia with George's help. I just joined the board of Orphans Tree one year ago because I believe strongly in its emphasis upon helping older orphans. As they leave Russian orphanages, usually at age 16, these young people are even more vulnerable and needy than younger orphans. The life skills, safe haven, spiritual nurture, and friendship Orphans Tree staff provide these older orphans is invaluable, and it is how best to incarnate the gospel--helping one needy young person at a time.

This small ministry reaches out to older Russian orphans to offer help and hope. Orphan's Tree programs are diverse, ranging from dental care to classes in anger management, cooking, child rearing, and much more. A caring, loving staff give love, advice, and whatever is needed to aid young people who have no one else.

Barely seven years old, Orphans Tree (OT) is helping post-orphanage Russians live a meaningful life. Working in three regions, OT maintains ministry centers and dachas providing education, healthcare, and encouragement to the lost in modern Russian society.

I had the opportunity to travel to Russia with Orphan's Tree earlier this year. It was a great trip, but more than that, it was inspiring to see the organization's long-term commitment to the orphans they work with. So many organizations today are into checking boxes and impressive stats, but Orphan's Tree makes a last difference in the lives of the kids they work with. They have Russian staff members today who were among the orphans served 20 years ago, and they still remember meeting the staff and volunteers when they were kids. Great organization!

I have traveled to Russia each year for the last 16 years with the leadership of Orphans Tree and it has been an extraordinarily positive experience! All of our trips have been well planned and carried out in a very professional manner. Lives have been changed forever including the orphans we serve, the Russian staff we work with and all of the Americans with whom we have traveled. If you want to get involved in an organization the makes a wonderfully positive difference in this world, then Orphans Tree is a great place to invest your time, money, and prayers.

For the past 25 years, Orphan's Tree has been focused on older adult orphan care in Russia. My husband and I have been involved with this ministry for the last 16 years. This year, 10 people from Tulsa OK traveled to rural Russia to establish a sheep farm and fiber arts /wool mill with the intent to help older adult orphans become more sustainable. Like you, we have many choices as to where and how to invest our time, energy and money. This organization has stayed true to their calling. Under the able leadership of George Steiner, Orphan's Tree has the integrity, faith and love to address the needs of this special group of people..."orphans". We are blessed to be a part of Orphan's Tree and its mission!

I am very happy to have association with the Orphan's Tree organization. I have made many trips to Russia with another organization & I feel that all those trips lead up to the fantastic experience I had with Orphan's Tree. The ministry they provide for the people I have come to love so dearly is wonderful. The staff has a heart for those they serve & the recipients cannot help but be blessed in ways they would never have expected. I look forward to future trips with Orphan's Tree. My only disappointment is that I do not have the resources to participate in a bigger way.

Orphans Tree Inc does an exemplary job of reaching out to orphans in Russia in their time of need. The programs they have implement to help men and women transition to life outside the Orphanage demonstrate their knowledge of the needs and love that they have for the people they serve. This example of Christ's love is inspiring! Also, the staff's understanding of short term mission trips makes the experience life changing. Please consider supporting and going on a trip with them.

Orphans Tree is a truly amazing nonprofit. It focuses on and invests in people as complex individuals as opposed to people as members of communities with generalized needs. While in Russia, I was able to connect with orphans and engage them in activities that helped them understand their worth and see what a community of love looks like. Orphans Tree goes beyond what is called "voluntourism" and really helps to change lives and build relationships that will last a lifetime. The environment Orphans Tree creates as a place for personal growth and investing in others is unmatched by any other organization I have encountered. I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering with this organization and look forward to doing so again soon.

I have been on two trips with orphans tree and the work they do is amazing. I'm incredibly blessed to be able to contribute a small amount to this organization.

So exciting to watch all the creative ways Orphan's Tree is helping and serving older orphans. They are a ministry with a heart to serve, care for and equip those who are struggling to find their way. I feel honored to serve such a wonderful ministry and nonprofit!!

Orphan’s Tree is led and staffed by people who have a genuine heart of love and compassion for the older orphans in Russia. I have observed them creatively serving and diligently praying over this often-overlooked population. I had an opportunity to travel to Russia this year with Orphan’s Tree and saw first-hand the impact of this ministry. I was touched by the number of young people who have found - through Orphan’s Tree - a place of belonging and an oasis of hope in otherwise bleak circumstances. Our family gladly gives to Orphan’s Tree because we know now the desperate need in Russia and we implicitly trust Orphan’s Tree’s leadership to use our donations to make a difference.

Orphan's Tree ministers to orphan children and young adults in Russia in many creative and innovative ways. They care about and minister to the whole person - spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and mental. They minister to children in orphanages, but they also follow through and help them integrate into Russian society when they become teenagers and must leave the shelter of the orphanage. Orphan's Tree also enables churches to get involved, and some very significant life-change occurs within the hearts of team members when they come face to face with orphans in Russia. Team members usually return home sensing that they have received far more than they ever gave. Orphan's Tree also provides opportunities for Russians to get involved in the ministry, and these Russian young adults frequently find their hearts being changed as well. Orphan's Tree is a wonderful ministry, and it is making a difference in many lives!

This organization has been actively connecting with young Russians in its orphanage system for decades, long before I got involved. The people involved understand the culture, the government, and the lack of hope without their involvement. They have made a significant difference in the lives of the people they have met.

Orphan's Tree is run with a heart, passion and authenticity! Those who work and lead Orphan's Tree seek out ways to understand the culture and the children they are serving. The Lord is very present in the ministry and in the leadership. I appreciate and truly love the people at Orphan's Tree.. they are doing God's work from a place of love and service and genuine passion.

One of the key reasons we chose Russia when adopting our two kids was that we'd heard some scary stats. We were told that kids were put out of orphanages at 15 or 16 years old. After that, nearly 90% ended up in crime or prostitution or committing suicide. They don't know how else to survive. When I learned about Orphan's Tree, I was so encouraged! Someone is showing Christ's love and compassion to these young people. Someone is showing them a better way to survive and thrive in a difficult circumstance. Someone is telling kids who've spent most of their lives feeling unloved that they have a father who loves them! We consider it an honor to be able to support such a wonderful, committed organization.

There are so many charities out there, it is a challenge to find the right one. The people involved in Orphan's Tree are passionate, committed, authentic, and trustworthy. I have a huge amount of respect for the commitment they show and the enormous impact they have where there is great need and minimal resources. I feel confident in recommending them to anyone that your giving goes to those in sore need and will have significant impact on lives.

As a pastor and volunteer on multiple mission trips to Russia, I have been associated with Orphan's Tree since its founding. I have greatly appreciated seeing the integrity and effectiveness of this mission first hand. The leadership of Orphan's Tree makes the building of long-term trusting relationships with Russian older orphans and their care givers a priority, and its willingness to build slowly for the long term is paying great benefits for the Kingdom of God. As a pastor with 45 years experience, I would without hesitation recommending your involvement with Orphan's Tree with either financial support or personal involvement.

I've been around Christian ministries for 20 years, and this is one of the most innovate outreaches I've seen. Most orphan-care organizations are working in orphanages or through adoption, but Orphan's Tree serves the orphans in Russia who have aged out of orphanages and are left to fend for themselves as 15- or 16-year-olds who have never been taught how to function in society. By providing job training, life-skills coaching, and help with a myriad of practical needs—from parenting instruction to dental work to filling out housing paperwork—Orphan's Tree ministers holistically to some of the world's most overlooked individuals. The people of this ministry have found a practical, effective, and creative way to live out James 1:27. If you are looking for a way to care for "the orphan in distress," there is much bang for your buck to be found through Orphan's Tree.

I had an opportunity to travel to Vladimir, Kostroma, and Ivanovo, Russia in February of 2013. I was impressed by the work that Orphan's Tree is doing with older orphans in Russia. The future is bleak for this group of orphans without some training and support towards independent living. It was exciting to see teams of US volunteers partnering with Russian staff. I was encouraged by the staff working on the front lines. They were dedicated and loyal to the orphans they serve.