Revisit our most-read stories from the past year — from first-person adoptee accounts to donor impact stories about Holt’s life-changing programs for children and families around the world!
The year 2025 is in the books — and what a year it’s been!
In April 2025, Holt recognized the 50th anniversary of the “Vietnam Babylift,” a humanitarian effort to safely evacuate children in orphanage care at the end of the Vietnam War. Among Holt’s most-read stories from this past year were those reflecting on this historical moment, including interviews with adult adoptees who were part of the babylift as well as an account from former Holt president John Williams, who was on the ground in Saigon during the evacuation.
Over the summer, our creative team traveled to India to capture stories of children and families who are thriving thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors. Stories from the trip were among our most viewed, including a feature about one young girl who, thanks to her sponsor, is in school and dreaming of her future.
In September, we launched Food Every Day (FED), our new monthly giving program dedicated to ending child hunger across the globe. Our video welcoming FED donors and sharing about this exciting new program garnered thousands of views — and inspired many to join the FED community. In November, we also shared about Holt’s exciting new partnership to transform nutrition and feeding for children living in orphanages in Cambodia — a program that’s also supported by our new FED program.
Popular stories also included Holt Adoptee Camp Director Elliot Bliss’ thoughts on the lifelong impact of Holt camp, adoptee Susie Bechtle-Mason’s reflections on Holt’s heritage tour of Korea, and more. Revisit some of our top stories of 2025 below — or read them for the first time!
Operation Babylift: 50 Years On
On April 5, 1975, Holt evacuated exactly 409 children from Saigon in what has now famously become known as the “Vietnam Babylift.” As Saigon was about to fall to the North, Holt’s flight was one of several agency-arranged flights intended to evacuate children already in process to be adopted abroad. Fifty years later, we look back at this dramatic moment in Holt’s history through the eyes of one key figure who was on the ground helping to evacuate children in Holt’s care — former Holt president John Williams.
Operation Babylift Changed Our Lives
Jon Dull, Jodi Willis and Thuy Williams left Vietnam as children in April 1975 and were adopted by families in the U.S. Now, 50 years later, they share their stories with Holt.
Giving Them Food Every Day
Holt International’s newest program, Food Every Day, is a community of monthly donors committed to ending child hunger across the globe. Listen as Emily DeLacey, Holt International’s nutrition and health program director, shares how monthly donors are changing the lives of children and families by providing nourishing meals — every single day.
Altan is Thriving, Thanks to You
Born with cerebral palsy and raised by a single mother who struggled to care for him, Altan faced an uncertain future. But thanks to Holt’s Child Nutrition Program, and donors to the Molly Holt Fund, this 3-year-old boy is now thriving in the loving care of his mom.
The House of My Dreams
In Pune, India, 10-year-old Shreedevi shows us the house she lives in — and the one she dreams of. With the support of sponsors, Shreedevi is in school and working to achieve her dream. Through her drawing, her words and a visit to her home, we glimpse the life of a girl in India and the future she imagines.
Growing Up in an Orphanage
Across Vietnam, Holt sponsors and donors provide support and care to children growing up in residential care centers. Each child — who they are, why they are here, and the type of care they require — is different. We invite you to meet the children living at one facility in Vietnam, to learn about their lives, and their hope for the future.
A Nutrition Breakthrough for Children in Cambodia
In Cambodia, Holt is partnering with the organization Plants-Earth-Life to transform nutrition and feeding for children, beginning where the need — and opportunity for impact — is greatest: in orphanages.
20 Years of Camp Magic: The Lifelong Impact of Holt Adoptee Camp
As he heads into his 20th summer with Holt Adoptee Camp, camp director Elliot Bliss reflects on the ways camp has impacted his identity, sense of community and outlook on the world.
Coming Home: One Adoptee’s Journey to Korea
Korean adoptee Susie Bechtle-Mason shares her journey to Korea on Holt’s 2025 heritage tour — where she found not only pieces of her past, but also a community of fellow adoptees and a deeper understanding of her story.
With Love to Give
When Mallory and Aaron Layendecker started their journey to adopt a 6-year-old boy with special needs from Colombia, they knew they would face challenges. But through preparation and a commitment to advocating for their son, he is thriving in his new home and family.
They Just Want To Be Loved: An Older Child Adoption Story
Like many hopeful adoptive parents, Mark and Becky Robles envisioned themselves welcoming home a baby. But as they learned about the many older children waiting for loving families, they opened their hearts to a 10-year-old boy from the Philippines — and soon found themselves both lucky and blessed.
Read more of our top donor impact stories of 2025.
Read more top stories by and about adoptees.
Read more stories from 2025 about caring for orphaned and vulnerable children.
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