What do a Families with Children from China (FCC) group and Baobei have in common? In Shanghai, almost everything! Baobei has appreciated our friends from Shanghai’s FCC group in so many ways it’s hard to know where to start. They have provided healing homes, raised money, gathered donations, raised awareness, are actively involved in Baobei management, but mostly, are passionate about finding permanent homes for our precious special needs orphans. Thanks, FCC!

Last Saturday, Cathy Sue Smith and Kim Choi, Shanghai FCC members and Baobei volunteers arranged a fabulous Chinese New Year celebration at a local Jin Qiao restaurant. Kids and parents alike were decked out in beautiful Chinese-style clothes as we shared a HUGE (Tiger-sized) meal to ring in the new year! Xin Nian Kuai Le! FCC, Baobei zhen xi womende you yi! (FCC, Baobei treasures our friendship!)

A week ago our last child was discharged from the hospital and we were ready to start our Chinese New Year break.

Well, before our break started, we received a very precious “gift” for CNY and we happily give up our break. Her name is Clara. She’s such a sweet and precious 9-DAY old baby. She was born with spina bifida and her sac was broken. We are so thankful that the British International School Shanghai and the Schell family quickly helped us fund her surgery (42,000RMB). Dr Bao will perform her surgery this week. She’s currently in Bed 16, 5th floor of SCMC. Please feel free to visit her during your CNY break.

Natalie is here visiting Shanghai after graduating from college and deciding what to do next.  She is holding our dear Baby Natalie who had surgery last week.  We’re grateful for people stopping through and helping Baobei as part of their Shanghai experience.  Thanks, Natalie!  Baby Natalie is heading to a healing home soon.  We’re amazed at all the great Shanghai people who want to care for these precious children in their homes.  They are the real heart of our work!

Through our work to help and support Chinese orphans receive life-saving gastrointestinal and neurological surgeries in Shanghai, we hope to make many of those children’s dreams become a reality.

Thanks to Dallas’ support and collaboration, Baobei Foundation is able to bring this Newberry and Caldecott award-winning book to you at the low price of RMB 130.00 per copy.   All proceeds of “An Awesome Book” sold in China will go directly to fund the work of Baobei Foundation.

This is available in China ONLY through Baobei Foundation and can be ordered directly through Kim C at kimc@baobeifoundation.orgor by stopping by the Baobei Foundation table at many of the upcoming Holiday Bazaars throughout the Shanghai area.

Please note, we have a very limited stock of books, so be sure to order early to avoid disappointment.  If you are outside of China and would like to support Baobei Foundation through purchase of  “An Awesome Book”, please let us know by emailing kimc@baobeifoundation.org, and we will do our best to assist you.

By the way, did you know Dallas Clayton wrote “An Awesome Book” to promote world literacy? For every copy sold, he has committed to donate a free copy to a needy child somewhere in the world. So, not only will Baobei Foundation receive funds for surgeries and aftercare in China, but your support also helps improve literacy around the world!  How awesome is that?

Shanghai Ex-pat, Shaun Tan, will be competing in the 2009 Australia Ironman Competition. He is not just doing this for his own health and fitness, but to offer his hard work and time spent training for a bigger purpose - he has generously offered to use this event to help raise awareness about Baobei Foundation and hopes to use it to raise funds to support some of the medical expenses for our babies as well. Shaun has been training for months for this grueling race. He will be pushing his body to the limit to help someone like Samuel overcome his physical limitations. If completed, the Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) of swimming, 112 miles (180.25 km) of bike riding, followed by a full marathon (26+ miles / 42.195 km) – a total of 140.5 miles / 226.3 km! If you would like to spur Shaun on and support the work done through Baobei, you can make a pledge for every mile/km that Shaun completes (eg. If completed, 1 RMB/km = 226.3 RMB, or $0.50/mile = $70.25, etc. – it is entirely up to you) or a lump sum donation if he completes the entire race. The event will take place on December 5th, 2009 in Busselton, Western Australia.

To make a pledge, you can contact Lara Olson at lara@baobeifoundation.org. We will also be featuring the Ironman race at the Baobei Thanksgiving Dinner on November 26th and people will have an opportunity to make their pledge at that time. We will post Shaun’s results as soon as we get them and let each person who pledges know their totals. The donations can then be given directly via our website (http://www.baobeifoundation.org/donation.html) or cash donations will be picked up at your convenience.

We thank Shaun for his support of Boabei and his innovative idea to help support the life saving surgeries needed by these precious children! If you have other fund raising ideas that you would like to use to support the neuro and G.I. surgeries done through Boabei Foundation, please contact Carol Hoag at carol@baobeifoundation.org.