ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY MUTUAL ASSOCIATION OF SEATTLE ANNOUNCES HANA FUND

Hana Williams was born on July 19, 1997, in Ethiopia. Her mother disappeared when she was 3, and her father died a few years later. By the age of 9 she was living in an orphanage.

In 2008, Hana came to Sedro Wooley, Washington to live with her new adoptive family–parents Larry and Carri Williams, their 7 biological children, and another child adopted from Ethiopia, Ammanuel Williams. Less than 3 years later, Hana died of hypothermia in the Williams’ yard.

On October 6, 2011, Larry and Carri Williams were arraigned on charges of homicide by abuse and assault of a child. Their remaining children, including Ammanuel, are currently living in foster homes.

The Ethiopian Community Mutual Association (ECMA) of Greater Puget Sound now announces the advent of its Hana Fund. The purpose of the fund is prevent cases of abuse and assault in adoptive families via a program of outreach and crisis intervention, and via cultural awareness education and counseling.

Costs associated with ECMA’s Hana Program will include:

legal research
compiling a data base of adoptive children in its service area
establishing and maintaining a hotline
fees and expenses for social workers and counselors
establishing and maintaining cultural programming
website and social media presence
production of educational materials
outreach
If you would like to contribute to the Hana Fund, write a check to “ECMA Hana Fund” and send it to ECMA, 8323 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118, or visit ecmaseattle.org, click on DONATE NOW, and, via PayPal, make your donation with a credit card.

ECMA is a non-profit 501c3 organization, so your donations are tax deductible. Donors will receive a receipt indicating ECMA’s non-profit 501c3 status. Donations of all sizes are welcome and appreciated.

ECMA is currently in the process of updating its website with details about its Hana Program.

Hana Williams