Our Mission: Friends of Russian Orphans ("FORO") is an American mission organization, dedicated to demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ to Russian orphans and their caregivers through practical assistance and friendship programs.

Friends of Russian Orphans is an Ohio Not-For-Profit Corporation and IRS 501(c)(3) organization governed by a 13-member Board of Directors. It was formed in 2002, in response to the founders’ desire to express their gratitude to God and the Russian people for the blessing of a child adopted from an orphanage in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia. Since 2002, the work has expanded to include assistance at more than 15 Russian orphanages, located in the Arkhangelsk, Nzhiny-Novogrod, and Tula regions. 

Operations in Russia are conducted through bilingual facilitators based in Moscow, and Nzhiny-Novogorod, and through direct linkages with the orphanages and Russian governmental officials at the regional level. Friends of Russian Orphans representatives make regular “Friendship Trips” to assist in implementing and monitoring the ongoing work. In America, our mission is coordinated by President, Lisa Wurster and Friends of Russian Orphans’ other officers, with assistance from additional volunteers. Neither our officers nor our Board of Directors receive any compensation for their work. The mission is funded entirely by tax-deductible contributions made by caring individuals and church families who share our vision of helping homeless Russian children.