About Us

Wide Horizons For Children is a child welfare agency committed to family permanence for orphaned and at-risk children through adoption, child sponsorship, and humanitarian aid. Our priority is the best interest of the child, and we are committed to the highest ethical practices in the US and overseas.

We have served children in desperate need around the world for nearly 40 years, helping to place more than 12,000 children from 60 countries with adoptive families and allocating more than $13 million in humanitarian aid. We work with trusted partners around the world, and offer long-standing adoption programs in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Russia and the US. In addition, we have a special commitment to finding homes for children in immediate need of a family through our WHFC Horizons Kids program, and award financial subsidies to help qualified families adopt these children each year.

Peter Leppanen
President & CEO

Peter Leppanen

Thank you for your interest in Wide Horizons For Children.

We are committed to reducing the number of orphaned, abandoned and relinquished children in the world and finding permanent, loving families for children who cannot be cared for by their birth families.

Since 1974, we have been fortunate to attract families and donors who share our concern for children. Together, we have sponsored children whose families are in crisis, provided care for children in orphanages, improved medical care for entire communities, built schools to help children who would otherwise have no access to education, and helped place more than 12,000 children in need with adoptive families. To see an example of our comprehensive approach to international child welfare, please take a moment to view a video of our work in Ethiopia prepared by renowned photographer, philanthropist and WHFC adoptive dad Tyler Stableford.

The process of adopting a child has changed greatly over the past several years. The US implementation of the Hague Convention has resulted in stronger controls and beneficial safeguards, but it has also increased the cost of adoption and placed many new demands on adoptive parents and service providers. At the same time, changes in many societies have resulted in fewer infant adoptions. As a result, the number of children finding homes through international adoption has dropped to less than half the number of children placed into American families in 2005. Despite the limitations that have been placed on some adoptions, we are excited that many opportunities exist for families interested in adopting older (ages 3 and up) or special needs children. In fact, more families than ever are adopting children in need through our waiting child program, Horizon Kids!

Please join us in our mission to help children. We invite you to support our efforts to provide assistance to children around the world or to open your heart to providing a loving, permanent home for a waiting child.

Thank you for placing your trust in Wide Horizons For Children.

With gratitude,

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