The Creators of the Project
When editor Lisa Finneran and celebrity coordinator Jane Waldman each adopted children from Russia, they saw many children left behind in the orphanages. They knew that the odds of the children finding homes was remote. Graphic designer Rita Binns was born and raised in Russia, she is quoted "I am not an orphan, but I know what it is like to live somewhere without any hope or future."
Lisa Finneran
Lisa and her husband Michael adopted twins, a boy and a girl, in Arkhangel'sk, Russia in April, 2003. She became pregnant a year later and gave birth to another son in December, 2004. She is the founder and president of ArkAngels For Russian Orphans. She works part-time as a reporter with a Tribune Co.-owned newspaper in Virginia and as a freelance writer.
Jane Waldman
Along with her husband, Jane adopted a little girl from Arkhangel'sk, Russia in December 2004. She has been an entertainment correspondent for The Associated Press Radio Network and runs her own New York City based executive search firm.
Rita Binns
Rita now lives in Canada with her two sons. She came to Canada in 1993. She works as a web programmer, graphics artist, and technical support specialist. She also has her own web design company, Pretty Wings Web.
LeapFrog's Participation
LeapFrog is well known for it's wonderful educational toys. LeapFrog has also been very helpful in teaching English to internationally adopted children and it's products are available in 25 countries around the world and in 6 different languages. In conjunction with the release of Ya Tibya Lublu, LeapFrog will donate educational toys to Eastern European orphans who are a part of the Cradle of Hope's Bridge of Hope program.The Cradle of Hope is a non-profit organization that was started in 1990 by adoptive parents. Sine it's beginning 2,500 children have found adoptive families. The Bridge of Hope is a hosting program for older Russian orphans were the children are given the opportunity to spend one month with a family in their home. Through this program 310 children have been placed into adoptive homes since it's beginning in 1997.
Celebrity Participation
Several celebrities offered their support of the project by contributing recipes.- Oksana Baiul - represented the Ukraine and won the gold medal in 1994 for figure skating. She now resides in the United States.
- Kristin Chenoweth - actress and singer was adopted as a child. She has been seen on The West Wing as recurring role of media consultant Annabeth Schott.
- Christine Ebersole - actress and adoptive mother to three children has been seen on Will & Grace, Crossing Jordan, and now has a recurring role on the series Related. Here is her contribution, Merks Coffee Cake.
- Donna Mills - actress that is probably best known for her role as Abby Cunningham on Knots Landing and Melrose Place she is the adoptive mother of one daughter.
- Donna Murphy - actress and singer, can be seen in Broadway musicals and in the next Oliver Stone move about the terrorist attacks on 9/11. She is the adoptive mother to one daughter and the stepmother to two.
- Yakov Smirnoff - was born and raised in Russia. He became a U.S. citizen in 1986. He is a comedian, artist, author, and actor. He can be seen in Moscow on the Hudson, Money Pit, and Heartburn.
More Information
This beautiful book clearly is a project of love with many extras including, sample menus for different Russian holidays, Russian quotes and proverbs at the bottom of many of the recipes, an easy to follow index, and much more. Ya Tibya Lublu, would make a wonderful gift for adoptive parents involved in an Eastern European adoption.
(Published by Morris Press Cookbooks, 2006
ISBN 0-9777744-0-6)
