Donald Hoskins, Jenn Evans, Jim Luce, Rosa Suárez, Chris Godleski, and Carol Hoskins at Orphans International’s Roosevelt Island Day Brunch in the community room at Riverwalk.

Orphans International (OI) has announced Roosevelt Island for Orphans, a competition among the Island’s buildings to raise funds for its projects around the world. OI, based on Roosevelt Island, was founded by Jim Luce, a resident, and has grown quickly to include orphanages around the world – four now, and eight more to come.

"Saving children overseas isn’t just about adoption," says Luce. "They can be helped to stay in their own communities and become global citizens leading their countries forward." This is OI’s vision and philosophy. Luce kicked off OI’s summertime Roosevelt Island for Orphans campaign last week.

The competition was announced at a brunch held in the rooftop community room of Riverwalk Place on Roosevelt Island Day. OI America Board President Dr. Donald Hoskins and his wife, Dr. Carol Hoskins, hosted the event.

The competition among the various buildings on Roosevelt Island is a challenge to each one to recruit the most child sponsors and supporters for OI’s projects around the world. Each building will have a captain, and the captain who raises the most support will win the competition, with results to be announced in August.

"Islanders have been and continue to be key to the success of OI," Don Hoskins said. "This competition is increasing the awareness of our residents and seeking their support for our needful and deserving children."

The winner of the competition will be flown to OI’s project in Sri Lanka to cover the program there for The Main Street WIRE, with arrangements by Orphans International. OI Sri Lanka is the project of the Cohen family and friends, and the New Jersey Chapter of OI America. It is named in honor of Crecenta Fernando, a native Sri Lankan and husband of Ariele Cohen, Esq., who died in the tsunami of December 26, 2005.

"I applaud OI’s ability to get the entire community involved," said Roosevelt Island Residents Association President Matthew Katz. "OI has been a part of our Island’s philanthropic focus for years, and we are excited about this upcoming campaign."

OI has already raised some $1.2 million from its Roosevelt Island office, about half of that from Island residents. Other facts:

• This year’s budget is $540,000.

• Project nations, planned for 12 kids each, inlcude China, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guyana, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, and Togo.

• Orphanages currently open include Haiti, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi (Indonesia), and Sumatera (Indonesia).

• In the Fall, the Roosevelt Island Home for Tsunami Orphans will open in Sumatera, Indonesia.

• OI is exploring the possibility of hiring retired Roosevelt Islanders as part of an Associates program – with details to be announced.

• OI has 102 sponsors for children now, and seeks 141 more in 2007.

• Child sponsorship costs $600 a year, or $50 a month. Checks and credit cards are accepted.

• OI’s guiding motto is "Matthew’s Rule," first put forward by Jim’s 13-year-old son – that "all OI hcildren are raised as we would raise our own."