FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    August 26 , 2005

Playgrounds installed at Romania orphanages

Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption continues support work

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            August 27, 2005

           Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA) is funding and installing playground equipment at orphanages in Birland and Craoiva, Romania this summer.  The donations mark the continuation of a program begun in 2000.

            The therapeutic playground structures being installed in Romania were purchased from the Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of playground equipment in the United States.  In addition to providing an outlet for physical activities for children living at the orphanages, the playground equipment enhances cognitive, sensory and social skills and helps foster self-directed play.  Since 2000, FRUA has sent 11 sets of playground equipment to Eastern Europe.  Plans are under way to install an additional Romanian playground in 2006, as well as a playground at an orphanage about one hour outside of Moscow.

            The continuing program of building playgrounds reflects FRUA’s mission of supporting orphanages in Eastern Europe while serving as an educational resource for adoptive families and families considering adoption.  With local chapters across the United States, FRUA hosts a variety of activities for adoptive families, as well as an annual national conference every fall; it also publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Family Focus. 

            All playgrounds were made possible through volunteer contributions.  For more information, log on to the FRUA website at www.frua.org. 

Editor’s note:  For more information, contact John Perry, FRUA Advocacy and Outreach Chair at (517) 256-8516 or via email atjohn@frua.org.