For
many years in the greater Indianapolis area, there have been loosely organized groups of adoptive families with children of
Korean heritage that have gathered for meals, playgroups and other opportunities for fellowship. Through these activities,
connections have been made and friendships formed. As these children have grown, a new generation has come behind them. Often
unconnected to one another, these families looked for cultural and adoption resources for their children.
Although these families were very interested in helping their children
to learn and grow in their Korean identity, they were unsure how to begin. These families were not sufficiently acquainted
with Korea and were not sure how to introduce or teach their children about Korean customs, art, culture, cuisine and
language.
Many had forged their own
paths and connections within the local Korean American community, and in particular with the Korean Presbyterian Church on
101st Street in Indianapolis. The church elders and members of the congregation have supported these families over time and
have opened their hearts and doors to them by inviting these families to join in on various activities that the church has
conducted. More recently, the church has reached out by allowing Camp Kajok, a Korean Culture Camp, to take place on their
grounds. The idea for this camp came from Ruth Buhrt, herself the adoptive mother of three Korean-born boys. Elders from the
Korean Presbyterian church quickly moved from hosting the camp to serving as integral partners in the development of the camp's
educational programs. The camp's first year was a wild success with over 200 attendees. This wild success was the first
major partnership of these two diverse groups.
In
the fall of 2006, it was decided by a committed group of these people to organize these adoptive families and members of the
Korean Presbyterian Church, into a non-profit organization that supports families who have expanded their family through Korean
adoption.
After some research and consideration,
it was determined that an organization started in 1996 in the greater metropolitan DC area, Korean Focus (www.KoreanFocus.org),
had a similar mission and chapters in Cincinnatti, Ohio; Northern Maryland; and in the Seattle, Washington area. It was unanimously
decided to become the Indiana chapter of Korean Focus. Thus we are Korean Focus-Indiana (KFI).
The newly formed organization adopted the by-laws of Korean Focus, and
became incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Indiana in January 2007. In the first quarter of 2007, we
applied to the Federal Government for tax exempt status as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. In March 2007, we were granted
tax exempt status and thus membership and contributions to Korean Focus-Indiana are tax deductible to the extent allowed by
law.
