The SFCV Journal

Why We Exist

Our vision is to resurrect hope in the lives of special needs orphans of all ages by providing:

Security & love in their otherwise uncertain lives
Family environments & facilitation of their permanent adoption
Care for their medical, emotional, and educational needs
Vocational & spiritual preparation for lives overflowing with purpose

How We Accomplish Our Vision

More than 100 children are current beneficiaries of the Philip Hayden Foundation’s work at our primary facility, Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village.  Specifically, these children are the recipients of:
•    24 hour care by experienced Chinese “nannies;”
•    Nutritious meals prepared for them by the Shepherd’s Field staff;
•    Medical care by full-time western physicians on our staff;
•    Physical therapy (as needed) provided by our staff and volunteers;
•    Education at the Shepherd’s Field on-site school;
•    Surgeries to address their needs (as appropriate) at area medical facilities; and
•    Facilitation of their adoption into forever families, internationally and domestically.

Our ultimate goal is for each child entrusted to our care to be adopted into a permanent family or prepared by us for an independent, productive, and fulfilling life.

What The Results Have Been

During our 13 years in existence, we have:
•    Received special needs orphans from more than 20 government run orphanages;
•    Cared for more than 4,000 orphaned children;
•    Provided more than 3,000 surgeries and medical procedures;
•    Seen more than 800 children adopted into forever families; and
•    Developed relationships with 100 complimentary organizations.

Our Journey So Far

The Philip Hayden Foundation (PHF) was formed in 1995 to honor the memory of Tim and Pam Baker’s good friend whose untimely death inspired them to continue his passion for China’s orphans.  Though PHF’s original purpose was to assist local orphanages by donating needed items and helping to arrange surgeries and treatment for at-risk orphans, this limited our effectiveness.  In 1999, we moved to a foster home model focused exclusively on special needs orphans.

In 2002, PHF began searching for land to create an all-purpose campus that would have foster homes plus an on-site clinic, school, as well as vocational and recreation facilities.  The land, donated by the government of the Tianjin Dawangguzhuang Economic Development Zone, now holds six children’s homes, a clinic and school, the Inn of Eight Happinesses (for visiting teams), as well as the PHF office.  Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village welcomed its first children in August 2006 and was at capacity by February 2007.  An additional three homes were recently completed and construction is nearing an end on a school and outreach facilities.  Once the vocational center is completed, Shepherd’s Field will be the largest facility of its type in all of mainland China and home to as many as 150 special needs orphans of all ages.

Recent & Upcoming Expansions

2008 represented a year of rapid expansion on our Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village campus.  Great encouragement by the local government coupled with a unique opportunity to expand our work into unaddressed needs led us to construct the following new facilities:

•    Three additional children’s homes (now completed)
•    Arts & craft workshop (now completed, providing income for the campus)
•    A community outreach center (now completed)
•    Dedicated school building (nearing completion)

The last remaining facility on our campus master plan is a 30,000 square foot vocational center (shown below), which will include:

•    Dormitory space for older teenage orphans
•    Classrooms for our developing vocational/life skills training programs
•    Physical therapy and recreational facilities
•    Apartments for staff housing

We  began construction of this facility in early 2009.