ABOUT US
Our Mission: Kidstown International cares for orphaned and neglected children by supporting children’s homes that improve quality of life and educational opportunities in a Christ-centered environment, giving them hope for the future.
Our Vision: Kidstown is where every child is loved and equipped to impact the world.
OUR HISTORY
After traveling to Romania in the early 1990s, Mike Hollander established Kidstown Romania for the purpose of raising money to expand the Bethesda Home, a children’s orphanage supporting abandoned children in Romania.
Over the next several years, Kidstown grew to support ten homes in Romania. Kidstown helped local orphanages provide for children’s basic needs and give them opportunities for education.
In 2005, God began to open the doors in India and Nepal, where the challenge of abandoned, orphaned and children at risk is enormous. During the next ten years, Kidstown became aware of 40 additional homes that needed help to answer the call of caring for children.
As of 2020, Kidstown International is helping to care for nearly 1,000 children living in 49 orphanages in Romania, India, and Nepal.
LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Shelton, Board Chair; Marv Tjoelker, Vice Chair; Mark Hollander, Leilani Salinas; Jayson Korthuis; Jason Vander Kooy; Board Members
U.S. STAFF
Fred Hartsook, Executive Director; Chuck Valley, Director of International Operations (Romania); Rusty Polinder, Director of International Operations (Nepal and Thailand); Aubrie (Devine) Brown, Financial Operations Manager; Esther Klebe, Sponsorship and Communications Manager
INTERNATIONAL STAFF
Florica, Regional Program Administrator, Romania; Eszter, Regional Program Administrator, Romania; Loknath, Education Counselor, Nepal; Naresh, Regional Program Administrator, Nepal; Sukhlal, Regional Program Administrator, Nepal; CV, Regional Program Administrator, India; Nelson and Ruby, Assistant Regional Program Administrator, India; Gloria, Regional Program Administrator, India; Abhoy, Regional Program Administrator, India; Sam Panderla, Country Director, India
FINANCIALS
Kidstown is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by IRS regulations.
A financial statement will be issued upon request.
92% of sponsorship and special project donations are sent to India, Romania, and Nepal.