Jennifer Lane ~ Jennifer's deep love for China began when she was an
exchange student to China in 1993. In 1996, she obtained a Master's Degree in Chinese Law from
London University's School of Oriental & African Studies. Soon after, she began working in the
field of international adoption, helping to find loving homes for China's orphans. She
immediately knew she had found a worthwhile calling in the lives and hearts of these precious
children.
Working independently, Jennifer brought Zhou Zhou, The Red Thread's first orphan, to the U.S. in the fall of 2002. That same year, she began working closely with The Grace Children's Foundation (TGCF). Her work with TGCF eventually brought her together with Kathy Korge Albergate, with whom she incorporated The Red Thread that year.
Jennifer uses her connections in China to facilitate the China-side of The Red Thread's projects - identifying the orphanages and orphans The Red Thread works with and assisting with the visas and travel logistics involved with bringing them to the States for medical treatment.
Jennifer has worked for several international adoption agencies, developing and expanding their China programs. Through her work, she has also spent time in many orphanages throughout the PRC, gaining first-hand exposure to the existing needs in China's Social Welfare System. For the past year, Jennifer has worked for A Helping Hand Adoption Agency as Manager of International Adoptions, directing their China and Guatemala adoption programs.
In August 2006, she moved to Italy to take some much-needed time off. She is currently studying Italian, writing poetry and indulging in her hobbies of kickboxing, running and making hand–made cards. She is also enjoying the beautiful scenery of northern Tuscany and learning to wind-surf in the Ligurian Sea.
Working independently, Jennifer brought Zhou Zhou, The Red Thread's first orphan, to the U.S. in the fall of 2002. That same year, she began working closely with The Grace Children's Foundation (TGCF). Her work with TGCF eventually brought her together with Kathy Korge Albergate, with whom she incorporated The Red Thread that year.
Jennifer uses her connections in China to facilitate the China-side of The Red Thread's projects - identifying the orphanages and orphans The Red Thread works with and assisting with the visas and travel logistics involved with bringing them to the States for medical treatment.
Jennifer has worked for several international adoption agencies, developing and expanding their China programs. Through her work, she has also spent time in many orphanages throughout the PRC, gaining first-hand exposure to the existing needs in China's Social Welfare System. For the past year, Jennifer has worked for A Helping Hand Adoption Agency as Manager of International Adoptions, directing their China and Guatemala adoption programs.
In August 2006, she moved to Italy to take some much-needed time off. She is currently studying Italian, writing poetry and indulging in her hobbies of kickboxing, running and making hand–made cards. She is also enjoying the beautiful scenery of northern Tuscany and learning to wind-surf in the Ligurian Sea.
Kathy Korge Albergate ~ In 1993, Kathy began collecting winter coats to
be given to women's shelters in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She has been deeply involved in Big
Brothers Big Sisters for over ten years, and was recognized in 1993 with the Big Brothers Big
Sisters Extra Mile award. She has also volunteered as an ESL instructor in Texas and New York.
In November of 2000, Kathy traveled to Russia with a team of volunteers from Shoes for Orphan
Souls to help distribute 50,000 pairs of shoes to orphans in Russia, Romania and China.
The following year she was asked to sponsor one of five Chinese children coming to Dallas for surgery through The Grace Children's Foundation. Kathy volunteered her time to befriend Chen You. Through her friendship with Chen You, she fell deeply in love with the children in China and knew she wanted to devote more of her time to helping them.
Kathy brings her expertise in program development, accounting and project coordination to this partnership. She oversees the day-to-day operations of The Red Thread to assure product quality and customer satisfaction. On a continuous basis, she works on fundraising, special events, correspondence with volunteers, artists and missionaries.
The following year she was asked to sponsor one of five Chinese children coming to Dallas for surgery through The Grace Children's Foundation. Kathy volunteered her time to befriend Chen You. Through her friendship with Chen You, she fell deeply in love with the children in China and knew she wanted to devote more of her time to helping them.
Kathy brings her expertise in program development, accounting and project coordination to this partnership. She oversees the day-to-day operations of The Red Thread to assure product quality and customer satisfaction. On a continuous basis, she works on fundraising, special events, correspondence with volunteers, artists and missionaries.
