Hand in Hand has been offering child welfare services around the globe since 1974. Our mission is to provide the necessary foundations for orphaned children to develop to their fullest potential. Our services are focused on finding them permanent families through adoption, advocating for children’s rights, supporting orphanages, training families and assisting children and communities internationally.
MaryLee and her missionary husband, Don Fahrenbrink, arrived in the Philippines in January of 1971. After suffering a miscarriage, they met with social workers in Manila with the purpose of adopting a little girl, and two years later, an infant son. Being in orphanages that were severely understaffed and seeing the children’s needs constantly go unmet, MaryLee knew that her life would be forever changed. She set forth a plan: the first step was to set up a foster care system (CRIBS), to provide one-on-one care for the children who could not thrive in an orphanage. With no international adoption laws in place, MaryLee was invited to work with Philippine officials to write laws for international adoptions. She simultaneously set up the first international adoption agency (LPAS) within the Philippines to provide homes for waiting children abroad. In 1974, the first 60 children were united in love with their new and forever families in the United States.
After finding loving families for 300 additional children, MaryLee returned to the U.S. in 1977 and expanded the idea behind LPAS and CRIBS, and formally incorporated Hand in Hand International Adoptions as a non-profit 501©(3). Since then, the Hand in Hand team has worked to find loving, permanent homes for nearly 10,000 children from 22 countries. Under MaryLee’s leadership, the Hand in Hand staff works tirelessly to provide the necessary foundation for orphaned children to develop to their fullest potential.
MaryLee has a background in teaching and holds degrees in Education, Counseling and Psychology. Her expertise in adoptions extends into her personal life as well; she has fostered over 60 international children and is the adoptive mother to five international children, one biological son and 3 step-children. Needless to say, MaryLee’s passion in life is, and probably always will be, children.
Vickie heads up our Indiana office and is the Program Director for three different programs: Bulgaria, Haiti and the Philippines. She has been a part of the Hand in Hand family since 1985. She was first an adoptive parent and then felt led to join the team in 1995. She and her husband, Paul, have brought 6 beautiful children home through Hand in Hand and she enjoys working for an agency that advocates for all children. Vickie holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Special Education and she spent 19 years as a special education teacher, consultant and administrator. Her biggest accomplishment has been raising her 7 children, which has given her the unique insight to be able to relate to families that are going through the adoption process themselves. In her free time, Vickie enjoys taking walks, gardening, doing crossword puzzles, traveling and she is quite competitive when it comes to miniature golf!
Steve joins the team at Hand in Hand with a background in non-profit organizations, the healthcare industry and higher education. He holds a B.A. in Public Relations, a Master of Divinity, and an M.A. in Psychology, all of which have allowed him to do what he is most passionate about: making a positive difference in the lives of others. Steve heads up operations for Hand In Hand and his outgoing personality makes him a fantastic spokesperson for introducing Hand In Hand to new families and organizations that we partner with. Steve and his spouse have five adopted children. Steve is always excited to share his family’s experience with others to show them the incredible ways that adoption can transform lives. He is an avid sports fan, enjoys going to games and can normally be found adventuring with his kiddos throughout California. Steve is not afraid to go outside of his comfort zone and has even run a marathon in Italy to raise funds for charity! He loves being a father, first and foremost, and enjoys being able to give that experience to other families through his work with Hand in Hand.
Natalie is an important part of our Hand in Hand team as she directs our Florida office. She is mom to nine children, including three beautiful daughters from China. Natalie graduated from the University of Florida and went on to get her Master’s degree in Journalism Arts from the University of South Florida. She has authored books about adoption, written for newspapers, magazines, and received the Congressional Coalition on Adoption’s “Angel in Adoption Award.” She has had many successes in her professional career, but her biggest accomplishment is hands down her legacy that she will leave behind in her children. Natalie enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and grandkids, as well as traveling, singing and listening to audiobooks. She was a music critic for 20 years and loves classic, rock ‘n roll, and contemporary worship music. Natalie is passionate about walking our Florida families through the adoption process and she is humbled that, through adoption, she gets to help other kids from around the world finally get to call someone “Mom.”
Camilla has been with Hand in Hand since 2014 and brings a fantastic cross-cultural background to our team. Camilla is from Brazil and she loves being able to work with her home country, giving families a real glimpse into the culture of their future child! She received her Law Degree in 2010 and then completed her Master’s in Law at Ohio Northern University in 2014. She wrote her thesis on International Adoptions, which was later published by the Brazilian Secretary of Human Rights! Camilla has experience in corporate law settings and traditional law offices, but she finds the most meaning in her work with Hand in Hand where she can actually see transformation in the lives of so many children and families. She is a valuable asset to our families and our staff, as she developed the first international adoption program of any U.S. accredited agency in Brazil. Camilla loves all things outdoors, she is an avid gardener and can almost always be found in her kitchen – she prides herself on her Brazilian & Italian food but can really cook almost anything!
Pam has over 25 years of experience working in adoptions from China and she brings her impressive expertise to our staff. Pam was led into the adoption world after her family adopted their daughter from China in 1995. Since then, she served as the China Program Director at Brightside for Families and Children, she co-founded and held the position of CEO of Homeland Adoption Services and she has worked continually to provide orphaned children from China with families. Pam has a big heart for children that need extra support and care. She has volunteered by supporting parents of children on the autism spectrum, as well as strongly advocating and finding families for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, have cerebral palsy, have down syndrome and those with hemophilia. She knows that Hand In Hand is not just an adoption agency and loves being able to bring families into the Hand in Hand family forever. When Pam isn’t busy saving the world, she volunteers with Habitat for Humanity in working with the Dacotah Tipis on a Sioux reservation in South Dakota—she’s been helping there since the 1970s! She enjoys spending time with her husband, children, their three feisty cats and their Jack Russell terrier named Joe.
Bonnie joined the Hand in Hand team in July 2020. She is thrilled to be a part of Hand in Hand International Adoptions because she feels passionately about rescuing children at risk, especially children living in orphanages who need loving, forever families. Bonnie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Sciences from Brigham Young University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. She has worked as a licensed clinical social worker in the ER at a children’s hospital, with youth in residential treatment and acute care, in settings doing family, group and individual therapy, and as the clinical director for a domestic adoption agency. Bonnie guides our Utah families through their adoption process from start to finish, including writing home studies, training families, and completing post-placement services. Bonnie and her husband are the parents of four biological children and five adopted children, three domestically and two internationally. She enjoys writing, playing the piano, traveling, snow skiing, swimming, biking, serving at church and spending time with her adorable grandson! Bonnie was honored to receive the Angels in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in 2019.
Andrea Jacobs came onto the team in 2021 in the role of Post Adoption Coordinator for our China program. She brings experience, expertise, and her great sense of humor. Andrea lives in Chicago with her husband, and two children, a son and daughter who joined the family through adoption. Andrea formerly served as the coordinator at an international adoption agency for 16 years, and is passionate about assisting parents and children in families formed through international adoption.
Trena started working for Hand in Hand in 1996 as an Administrative Assistant. She also held positions of China Program and Eastern European Program Assistant and Director of Development Assistant. She has worked for Hand in Hand for over 16 years and is currently the Financial Director, frequently assisting with many other tasks, as needed. Trena loves Hand in Hand's mission (giving children a family - "cradle to grave") and is truly honored to be a part of all that Hand in Hand represents! Trena has three wonderful adult children, one grandchild who is 12, two energetic pups and one laid back cat. She has had many different adventures in life such as skydiving, working on cars, moving to different states and being the only red head in the family!
Paul Truelove - President of the Board
Scott Graubard - Vice President of the Board
Duane Metcalf - Treasurer – Board of Directors
Tim Fahrenbrink - Executive Secretary - Board of Directors
Dana Neer - Board Member, Fundraising Committee
Brett Hilton - Board Member
MaryLee Lane - Board Member
We are so excited to help you build your family through international adoption. Please fill out the form below and we will be in touch shortly.
