With Jan Baker taking the time to laud adoptive parents and their contributions toward the betterment of adoption in the world on her recent blog, I'm inspired to expand on the topic a bit today in support of her tribute.

Coming across this story out of Korea feels like providence incarnate, as the example it illustrates is perfect for the discussion.

A dad to a Korean-born daughter adopted almost twenty years ago, Dr. Richard Boas, an ophthalmologist from Connecticut, is a passionate man with deep commitments. Inspired by his child and compelled to do what he can for the good as he saw it, he eventually started up, in conjunction with other Connecticut adoptive parents, The Adoption Foundation at Family and Children's Agency to help middle-income families with international adoption funding, financially aiding about 15 families in their adoptions.

A birth country visit in October 2006, and a reading of Marie Myung-Ok Lee's book "Somebody's Daughter" ... Marie, by the way was one of us original 26 bloggers hired here ... shifted his focus.

"As grateful as I am that Esther came into my life -- and that I had the great privilege of bringing her up, of being her father and seeing her grow into a fine young woman -- it pains me to see any woman give up her child because people and the government won't support her," Boas said.

Upon learning that an estimated 70% of unwed mothers in Korea relinquish their children to adoption ... compared to less than 2% in the US ... he began investigating the South Korean social welfare system, found it greatly lacking in support of unwed mothers, and saw a way he could help woman position themselves in ways that would allow more of them to keep and raise their own children.

"Koreans have a golden opportunity to really evolve and do so well by these kids and their mothers. I think when you really come down to it, the economic price and the social price is relatively small.

Dr. Boas now provides funds to a San Francisco foundation called, Give 2 Asia, and supports other organizations like The Single Mother's Network, Aeranwon, an organization that provides support to young, single mothers in South Korea, and the Korean Woman Workers Association.

Dr. Boas -- one more in a very long and ever-growing list of adoptive parents contributing every day toward improvements in the world of adoption, and working to level the field on which adoption takes place ... the field of poverty, social stigma, family condemnation and hopelessness.