A group of FANA families waits to meet a returning family at the Buffalo Airport.
We are a non-profit organization established to assist families who wish to adopt from FANA (the Spanish acronym for the Foundation for the Assistance of Abandoned Children) located in Bogotá, Colombia. For over 22 years, Families of FANA has provided a balance of social and educational activities for our members and their children.
From what began as a golf tournament of 20 very bad golfers in 1989, we have evolved into an organization raising nearly 1.2 million dollars for FANA. Today, we have a full field of 144 plus golfers playing in our annual charity golf tournament and 300 people attending the dinner and auction event.
The summer picnic is a time to celebrate, share, and learn--together.
“Buddy-families” assist new members with the adoption process and help new families find their way in our organization. We provide a balance of social and educational activities for our members and their children, including a week-long Spanish Camp. Each summer we host a family picnic, attended by well-over 500 friends and family. In the fall, the children have a chance to wear their favorite costumes at our Halloween party. Several other informal gatherings are held throughout the year.
All of these allow the children to interact and create longlasting friendships with others who have been adopted. In addition, we offer educational seminars for our families, from new-born parenting classes to dealing with adoption during adolescence. We also feature a newsletter to help our families stay in touch.
Our members care about the new families who hope to adopt through FANA. We know that for every child available for adoption, there are hundreds of applications. And we are so thankful that Mercedes and her staff so often choose to give one of our families to a precious FANA child.
FANA founder, Mercedes Martinez, takes time out for her "kids."
Our members also care about the facility of FANA. Twenty-four years ago, FANA was housed in a busy commercial area of Bogotá in two small, older homes. Today, FANA is located in Suba, a suburb of Bogotá with green space for the children to play in and a building of modern medical amenities, assuring not only the best of care for the children, but also a beautiful environment. Through fundraising events throughout the world, this beautiful two-million-dollar facility is fully owned by the children of FANA.
Our members also care about the people of Colombia. Through FANA’s many programs, the community surrounding our facility can participate in programs designed to strengthen the family. They learn to budget their meager salary, they are taught basic skills and they are educated in how to function as a healthy family unit. These programs are fully funded by our donations and receive no financial support from the Colombian government.
FANA kids volunteer at Hunter's Day of Hope at the Buffalo Bill's fieldhouse.
While our effort focuses on the children and people of Colombia, we also are citizens of this great country. Through Families of FANA, we have donated more than $200,000 to local charities, which serve the needs of children in our home towns.
If this sounds like the right group for you then complete the Preliminary Adoption Request form online:
Baker Victory Services – Pre-application
