Who We Are

In March 1998, Mia Scarlat visited the United States as a guest of Paul Godsey. He had met her on an overseas trip during which time she was his translator. During her stay, she stayed with Darrell and Joan Castle and their daughter Joanna in Memphis, Tennessee. After three months, the Castles and Mia became very close. They often discussed the predicament of Romanian orphanages, schools, families and street children. Mia was a school teacher and her husband Costel, was an engineer during Ceausescu’s communist reign. When Ceausescu was overthrown, Mia continued as a teacher and principal but Costel lost his job. When Mia was visiting the United States, Costel was in Bucharest selling popcorn on street corners.

Mia’s love for the children she taught and the children she visited in the orphanages was so evident to the Castles that they became convinced that they should help. When Mia left at the end of May 1998, the three of them decided to start an American fund to help Mia serve the children.

Mia began meeting with children who hung around her neighborhood. They’d meet on benches where they talked, studied and played. From this humble beginning, Mia’s Children was born.

Within a few months, Mia’s Children Foundation, Inc. was founded as a non-profit corporation in the State of Tennessee. Funding was solicited from people Mia had met earlier including their contacts with other individuals, civic organizations and church groups. Patsy Vick became instrumental in coordinating efforts between the donors by traveling to Bucharest and working with Mia and Costel. Mia’s Children is also legally registered in Bucharest as “Mia’s Children Association”.