Russian Adoption Expert to Visit Portland Agency

Released 5/12/09

Valentina Gromikh, the head of MAPS Worldwide’s Russia adoption office in Moscow, will visit the non-profit agency’s Portland headquarters and will be welcomed at a reception on Thursday, May 21.

The gathering in Gromikh’s honor will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at MAPS, 277 Congress Street, Portland. rospective adoptive families who want to learn more about adopting a child from Russia are welcome to attend.

In 1991, MAPS became the first US agency licensed to place Russian orphans into American families. Since then, it has found homes for over 1,200 children from Russia and 4,300 children from around the world.

Betsy Bewsey, MAPS Director of Adoption Programs, says, “It is our goal to find loving, permanent homes for children who are living in Russian orphanages. We are very excited to bring Valentina to Maine, and we see her visit as a great opportunity to share information about adoption with Maine families who want to learn more about children in Russia who are in need of adoptive homes.”

Families who would like to attend the reception should RSVP by calling MAPS at 775-4101. For more information about Russian adoption or any of the adoption programs offered by MAPS, please visit www.maps-worldwide.org.

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About MAPS Worldwide: MAPS is a non-profit adoption agency, residential services and humanitarian aid organization founded in 1977. The agency, with offices throughout New England, offers domestic and international adoption services as well as international aid projects and residential programs for homeless women who are pregnant or parenting.