Holt International assumes management of Sunny Ridge Family Center’s operations in Illinois.
We have some exciting news to share with you regarding our work in Illinois.
Effective May 1, 2014, Sunny Ridge Family Center in Bolingbrook will merge with Holt International, joining forces in our efforts to find loving adoptive families for children in the United States and overseas. Holt will assume management of Sunny Ridge’s operations, and will operate as Holt-Sunny Ridge Children’s Services in Illinois — a branch office to Holt’s headquarters in Eugene, Oregon. Holt has branch offices that provide direct services to families living in several states from California to New Jersey, and looks forward to expanding these services to families in Illinois. “We are excited to have a direct connection with families at all levels of their adoption process in this state,” says Susie Doig, Holt’s senior director of adoption services.
Sunny Ridge started providing domestic adoption services in 1979, and international adoption services in 1981. With this merger, Holt plans to continue domestic placements in Illinois, beginning a new and exciting chapter — finding loving homes for children both internationally and in the U.S. We also plan to continue the long tradition of programs and services provided by Sunny Ridge, including exceptional post adoption services and adoption-competent therapy. “We are excited to continue these already successful programs,” says Susie.
Declining adoptions have put a strain on agencies in the United States. The merge with Sunny Ridge comes in direct response to this, and follows several months of collaboration between the two organizations. “We believe this is an opportunity to bring the best of two organizations together,” says Phillip Littleton, Holt president and CEO. “This merger will allow us to better serve families and supporters in Illinois, and further develop Holt’s reach in child welfare and social service activities.”
Amy Trotter, who was adopted from Vietnam through Holt, will serve as Holt-Sunny Ridge’s new director. With a personal connection to Holt, Amy has extensive knowledge of our adoption and child welfare services, and looks forward to joining the Holt team. “This is a natural transition for me,” Trotter says. “I know of the good work that Holt has provided for nearly 60 years and I am excited about being the bridge between these two outstanding organizations.”
We hope that you will pray for us as we embark on this new endeavor, merging with Sunny Ridge in Illinois for the benefit of the world’s most vulnerable children and continuing our vision: A world where every child has a loving and secure home.
Praying for sure. The Lord is watching over the wonderful work you do.
yay from illinois
Perhaps I am the only person who has served on the Board for both os these fine Christian organizations. I became acquainted with Bertha Holt, David Kim and other Holt staff and families in the 1970’s; I have been a Holt Board member since 1976 — having received emeritus status in 1990, when we moved to an area where Holt was not active. Later, I was invited to serve on the Sunny Ridge Board; I lived in the Chicago area at the time (2002); i subsequently served as the Sunny ridge Board Chair (2004-2006), before leaving the Chicago area. This merger brings two outstanding organizations together. My statistics may be out of date, but Holt, at one time, was the largest adoption agency in the world; snd, at the time I was on the Sunny Ridge Board, it was the second largest adoption agency in Illinois. Perhaps the most personal part of my relationship with this/these organization(s) is that three of our six kids and two of our eight grandchildren were adopted from Korea through Holt. I’m sure God will continue to bless the mission and ministry of Holt/Sunny Ridge — Neal Davis:
Thanks for sharing, Neal! You definitely do have a unique vantage point as a former board member for both Holt and Sunny Ridge, and it’s interesting to hear about your history with both organizations. Sunny Ridge is a great agency, and we are also hopeful for the future as we welcome them into the Holt family. Best wishes to your family and take care!