Keeping Orphans Alive & Finding New Families For Them

Saigon, 1972. Eighteen years into the Vietnam War.

That’s when it all started for us. Vietnam was overwhelmed with children who had been orphaned by the war. Don and Marilyn Scott, who were relief workers there, founded a nutrition center to keep as many of these orphans alive as possible. At the same time, they asked Pam Larsen, an adoptive parent they knew, to pursue licensing for adoptions in Massachusetts. Many of these children had fathers who were American servicemen, and the Scotts knew most of these orphans would have a better life in loving families in the U.S.

By 1974, our adoption license had been granted and we began placing orphans from Vietnam in the U.S. This all came to an end when Saigon fell, but as there were so many other countries in the world struggling to handle the number of orphans in their care, it just marked the next stage in our development.

Known as International Adoptions, we soon started building loving families for orphans from South Korea, Colombia, and the U.S. We became Wide Horizons For Children in 1991, and soon started adoptions from China. In our 50+ years, we have built 14,000 families in the U.S. through adoption.

View Our Full History

Testimonials

In their words…

Anyone that is part of the adoption triad knows it is a very complex process both in practical and emotional terms, from the beginning of the process throughout the lifetimes of all involved. There are moments and feelings of happiness, joy, being overwhelmed, helpless, confused, love, fear and acceptance. Being with Wide Horizon for our three-year journey to adoption they not only guided us through these emotions, they were the strength we needed throughout the whole process and ALWAYS had the best interest of everyone involved- most importantly our daughter in Burundi. I will be forever grateful and never forget calling WHFC on March 13 the day NYC locked down due to the worldwide pandemic, six days before we were supposed to leave to meet and bring home our daughter, in complete hysterics. They let me have my moment of complete heartbreak, told us they would do everything to make sure our daughter was safe and make sure that we get to travel as soon as possible. And I swear, they moved mountains to get us there 6 months later in the middle of a pandemic. Creating a family through adoption is no easy task and a very public affair, as it should be, and I am very thankful that we got to work with WHFC to help us grow our family! At the end of the 3 years, they felt like they were part of our extended family! —Tony & Kelly Adoptive Parents, Burundi

I was so prepared for the hardness of adopting a child with Down syndrome, and not nearly as prepared for the daily joy and fun she has brought into our lives. —Emily T. Mother of Clara

Thanks for all your sage advice. You are a gift! —Laura Mother of Adult Adoptee, Post Adoption Services

When we were looking for agencies for South Korea, there were so many in New York that it was overwhelming. Fortunately, we were introduced to Wide Horizons through friends who worked with Wide Horizons on their adoption journey and we cannot imagine a better experience. We knew that the process will take years and the experienced staff at Wide Horizons provided us more than simply answering questions about paperwork and managing expectations. In addition, we were going through the process during Covid pandemic, so there were additional uncertainties that we had to navigate. However, our coordinator communicated with South Korea regularly to provide us helpful updates and guide us through the process. We especially appreciated wisdom the staff shared with us along the process that provided us comfort and also reality check. We were able to meet our son and was able to travel back home. Post-placement visits and also the wisdom we received during those were invaluable as new parents of a happy and growing toddler. —Sue & Vic Adoptive Parents, South Korea

Meet Our Team

Adoption Stories

The Transformative Power of Family

Special Siblings Find Loving Family.

Orphans Isaiah and Veronica were born in China with Achondroplasia, which leads to dwarfism. Ordinarily that might mean an unlikely path for adoption. But they found a home with an American family already familiar with the condition.

Read About Their Special Bond

Older Child Gets Second Chance.

After being abandoned as a child and many years in an orphanage, Nubia took part in a WHFC program with our partner Kidsave. Through that program, she met the couple that would eventually adopt her.

New Family for an Older Child

Porter Has Two Dads.

Two dads have been planning and waiting for Porter since the beginning. See how the birth parents chose Porters adoptive parents.

Discover why they chose adoption

Twins — 5 Years and 2 Continents Apart.

Adopting an older child was a pleasant surprise. Ian gets to experience many firsts with his forever family.

Read about Ian's Journey

New Chance For Cordelia.

Cordelia had no future in China. As an orphan with Down syndrome, there was virtually no chance of her being adopted. Under Chinese law, once children turn 14, they can’t be adopted at all. That’s when a Massachusetts teacher entered the picture.

A New Family, A New Future