13 WTHROrganization extends a hand to Haitian children

Organization extends a hand to Haitian children

Kris Kirschner/Eyewitness News

Carmel - Children are among the countless victims of the earthquake this week in Haiti. An estimated 400,000 were orphaned, even before the 7.0 magnitude quake Tuesday afternoon.

Saturday in Carmel, dozens of children - many of them adopted - celebrated the Russian New Year with their families at the Irsay Pavilion in Carmel. A world away, victims of earthquake-ravaged Haiti search for any signs of hope.

It's a picture of despair not lost on parents in Indiana.

"It breaks your heart to think about the loss and the children orphaned by the earthquake," said Carl Lecher.

KidsFirst Foundation, the organizers of Saturday's event, raises funds for orphanages in several countries. But after this week, it designated a portion of the money raised to help with earthquake relief efforts in the hope of helping the most innocent of victims.

"We've committed, as a foundation, to donate $5,000. We hope our effort here today, we're going to collect a goodwill offering, in the hope we can collect even more," said Mike Marker with KidsFirst.

The mission of KidsFirst is to help orphaned children around the world, so it made sense they would extend a hand to the children in Haiti. It's understandable, too, that families at the event were brought together by answering a call and would feel a special connection.

"It's very real to us, because we look at her everyday and wonder what her life would be like and all the orphans who are adopted, had we not chosen to adopt them," said mother Allison Cook.

The party Saturday celebrated a melding of cultures. They hope contributions will offer some comfort to children who were already without families and are now without a home.

KidsFirst Foundation