All About Kidstown

Mission Statement

The mission of Kidstown International is to help abandoned children living in indigenously-operated Christian orphanages in developing countries so that they may be alleviated of their suffering, have hope for the future, and become productive adults who love the Lord and who will contribute positively to their society.

Financials

Kidstown is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation.

All sponsorship and undesignated donations are tax deductible.

Kidstown is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

A financial statement will be issued upon request.

100% of sponsorship funds are sent to Romania and India to be used for childcare, bank and postal fees, and compensation of our Romanian & Indian staff.

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History and Leadership

Mike Hollander, Founder

In 1990, after viewing the 20/20 program on ABC about the deplorable conditions in Romanian orphanages, Mike Hollander made his first trip to Romania. He traveled as part of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee(CRWRC) and saw firsthand how the orphans lived. Mike made several trips to Romania with different organizations throughout the next few years bringing relief aid.

In 1995, Mike visited a private orphanage in Zsobok, a small town populated by a Hungarian minority. Reverend Irma Molnar, a Reformed Church pastor, and her husband Janos, a professor of theology, were caring for about 35 abandoned children in three small rooms, giving them basic needs and love. "These kids were being loved and cared for," Hollander declared, "That’s what needs to be supported. That’s what looking after kids is all about."

In 1996 Hollander established Kidstown Romania, Inc. for the purpose of raising money to expand the Molnars’ orphanage (named Bethesda Home), set up educational facilities, and rescue more abandoned children.

In 1998, Kidstown Romania expanded to helping another Christian orphanage, the Alesd Home, in the city of Alesd, Romania. The Alesd Home is under the care of Anamaria Gonczi, a retired children’s doctor. In 2000 Kidstown began working with three more Christian orphanages: Casa Sperantei, Casa Dorca, and Casa Otniel. In 2002 Kidstown adopted a sixth orphanage, the Casa Filip. In 2003 Kidstown moved forward with plans to help four additional orphanages.

As of 2009, Kidstown is helping to care for over 450 children living in 19 orphanages in Romania, India, and Nepal.

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Board of Directors

Mike Hollander - Founder and Chairman of the Board
Janice Bogaard
Jerry Hop
Joel Kok
Bernace Korthuis
Pastor John Van Schepen
Alvin Starkenburg
Russ Unrein
Ken Wick

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Staff

Dr. Matthew Smith - Executive Director
Jan Scholten - Finance
Sandra Smith - Child-Sponsor Correspondance
Chuck Valley - Representative in Tacoma, WA area
Keith Hill - Representative in Kalamazoo, MI area
Florica Iuga - International Administrator
Eszter Molnar - International Administrator
Loknath Manaen - International Administrator
Sukhlal Singh - International Administrator
Mary Jo Menninga - Administrative Assisttant

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Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity and humanity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His present rule as Head of the Church and in His personal return in power and glory.

We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, with equality across racial, gender and class differences.

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