A launch party was held Thursday evening, December 30, 2010, to celebrate the opening of a Global Overseas Adoptees’ Link (GOA’L) branch office in Santa Barbara. GOA’L assists Korean adoptees living in America in efforts to return to and experience Korea. This is the first office that the nonprofit organization has established outside of Seoul.
Approximately 60 adoptees, family members, and supporters showed up at Casa Las Palmas to celebrate the beginning of G.O.A.’L’s presence in America. Many attendees traveled from other states or countries, including G.O.A.’L’s Secretary General Yoo Shin Kim, also known as James Rosso, who flew here from Korea to speak at the launch.
Formed in 1998, G.O.A.’L has assisted over 6000 Korean adoptees with birth family searches, translation and interpretation, Korean language education, and tours of Korea. The organization also provides general support and a chance for Korean adoptees to find other people with a shared experience. “It’s really nice to find somebody,” said Korean adoptee Betsy Schaffer of connecting with other people in the same situation.
G.O.A.’L is opening its Santa Barbara office with hopes of spreading awareness of its mission. The new location will provide Korean adoptees living in America with easier access to information and assistance.
For more information contact goal.usa.info@gmail.com.