BERTHA HOLT
2000 HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Holt International Children’s Services
Bulgaria, Kenya, Haiti and Uganda
Mother of 14 children, eight of whom were adopted from Korea, Bertha Holt dedicated her time, effort and life to helping orphaned children around the world. Holt was a pioneer of inter-country adoption and an advocate for improved child welfare standards around the globe. Her efforts began in 1955 when she was denied the right to adopt orphaned children in Korea. She rallied Congress and the Holt Bill was passed in a mere two months.
Not forgetting the thousands of children that still needed help, the Holts founded Holt International Children’s Services in 1956. Together, they inspired and helped families to adopt orphaned children across the nation. Today, Holt International Children’s Services has united more than 100,000 children from war-torn nations with loving families in the United States. In 2002, Holt was announced as one of the inductees for the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Bertha “Grandma” Holt died on July 31, 2000, but she left behind a legacy of caring that will continue in her name and spirit for years to come.