Zan and Taylor Frederickson were quite satisfied with life and raising their two sons, even though the Frisco couple had wanted another child.

BRANDON THIBODEAUX/Special Contributor

Zan Frederickson, with daughter Sasha, is a volunteer for Hope International, which matched Sasha with the Fredericksons.

Then one fall day in 2003, Ms. Frederickson met Alexis, a 2-year-old Russian orphan who had been adopted by a local family.

"The minute I saw her there was an instant connection between us," Ms. Frederickson said.

Ms. Frederickson learned about the adoption agency that Alexis' parents used. Soon afterward, she and her husband were talking about adopting a girl from Russia.

Within weeks, the couple attended a seminar hosted by Hope International in Dallas, a nonprofit international and humanitarian aid agency that helps unite orphans with adoptive families.

A year later, with the agency's help, the Fredericksons adopted Sasha, a 1-year-old baby from Siberia. They traveled there to meet the girl before being able to bring her home.

"When Sasha entered the room and was handed to us, it hit me in a way that was truly one of those unforgettable, undeniable spiritual experiences," Mr. Frederickson said.

Soon after bringing Sasha home, Ms. Frederickson got involved with fundraising for Hope International. She started by getting basic items donated to the orphanages and contacting businesses to give items for the agency's silent auction and annual fundraising event.

Today, Ms. Frederickson volunteers as the agency's humanitarian aid ambassador and is co-chair for the "Making Miracles" fundraiser held each November.

"Zan is just a wonderful, easy-to-get-to-know person and very passionate about this cause," said Dawn Ford, executive director of Hope International.

The orphanages need of medical supplies including anti-bacterial ointments, bandages, toothbrushes and toothpaste, cough and cold medicines, cotton pads and balls, hairbrushes and combs. They also need basic clothing items for children ages 5 to 15, including shirts, pants, sweat pants, pajamas, shoes and bedding, preferably twin-size sheets.

"Everything in the orphanages is communal except for toothbrushes," Ms. Frederickson said. "After seeing that the children take off their shoes and put on slippers, I tried to get slippers for the kids. I also tried to get warm clothing since Russia is so cold."

Her specialty is getting corporations to donate items in bulk, which is not always easy.

"She has no fear," Ms. Ford said. "She's very confident in going in asking for donations. She just has a passion for children. She's finding other ways to help the kids left behind who have not yet been adopted."

For more information about adoption or donating to Hope International, visit the agency's Web site, www.hopeadoption.org.

Karen McDonough is a Frisco-based freelance writer.