Four local teens, who share a special connection to Romania, are helping Romanian orphans find their way in the world.

Paul Cretu is a Redmond resident and sophomore at Redmond High School. Mihai Petriuc lives in Redmond and is a sophomore at International Community School. Sammamish resident Roxana Rautu is a junior at International Community School. Radu Smintina, also of Sammamish, is a senior at Skyline High School.

Their parents attended college together in Romania. Cretu, Petriuc and Rautu were born there and came to this country between 10 and 13 years ago. Smintina was born in the U.S. but his dad was a native of Romania.

Smintina explained, “We started the Forgotten Faces Foundation, helping former institutionalized Romanian orphans through education. Most are from the days of Communism when orphanages were run by the government. Their age now is 18 to 21.”

Cretu pointed out, “At 18, they have to be released from orphanages.” Smintina added, “They’re making one of the most important transitions — from child to adult — without support. Many end up on the streets, homeless.”

The teens recently raised $8,000 for this cause. Their Fall Festival at Lake Sammamish State Park featured picnic food, outdoor activities and arts and crafts.

“It was mainly a family event. We passed out flyers at the Old Schoolhouse (Community Center),” said Petriuc.

And there’s a fairly large Romanian population here on the Eastside, “which helped to get the word out,” said Rautu. “Now we’re trying to do something more school-oriented, at each of our schools.”

They are planning a holiday drive to collect gently used or new clothing, as well as school supplies for the transitioning orphans.

Smintina said he’d talked to staff members at his school and was trying to start a club dedicated to this outreach project.

They’re setting up a Web site to promote their foundation and said their mission is closely aligned with an organization called Children On The Edge (www.childrenontheedge.org).

If you’d like to contribute to their philanthropic work, call Radu Smintina at (206) 349-6319.

Contact Redmond Reporter Reporter Mary Stevens Decker at mdecker@redmond-reporter.com or (425) 867-0353, ext. 5052.

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