Our Vision
A World Where Every Child is Cherished
Founded by Joshua Zhong and Lily Nie in 1992, CCAI (Cherish Children Adoption International) is a non-profit 501c3 charity recognized by the U.S. federal government, accredited by the Hague Accreditation, and licensed by the states of Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Wyoming. CCAI exists to find loving and permanent homes for abandoned/orphaned children, to offer humanitarian assistance to orphans left behind, and to provide cultural, educational and emotional support to adopted individuals and their families.
We believe that every child deserves a loving family. For over 32 years, CCAI has been working with the China, Ukraine, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Bulgaria, Taiwan and Colombia governments and, as of March 2025, has helped realize more than 13,350 family dreams, with forever families in all fifty U.S. states and fifteen countries, making CCAI one of the largest adoption agencies in the world.
We believe that adoption would be meaningless if we do not reach out to the orphans who remain behind. Through such charity programs like food assistance, child care training, foster care development, orphan sponsorship, medical mission and education support, CCAI’s charity efforts have impacted the lives of more than 100,000 orphans over the past 30 years.
We believe that the completion of an adoption is just the beginning of our responsibility to adoptees and their families. Since we opened the Joyous Chinese Cultural School (JCCS) in 1996, our passion for continued post-adoption support has grown richer and stronger, eventually evolving into The Park Adoption Community Center in 2019, which, in addition to JCCS, houses life-changing programs such as Adopteen, AdopTween, Xpress Yourself, Heritage Tours, and Adoptees Giving Back Orphanage Service Trips just to name a few, benefitting thousands of adopted children and their families across the country.
Our Mission
Adoption, Orphan Care, and Post-Adoption Support
This mission has three pillars:
1
To find loving parents and permanent homes for as many orphans as possible
CCAI is Born
Lily and Josh followed a calling they couldn’t ignore and began CCAI from their basement, driven by a deep desire to help orphaned children in China find the love of a family.
CCAI Brings Home Group 1 Babies
After struggling to get approval from China to adopt, Josh brings home the first six babies on Easter Sunday.
CCAI Celebrates 100 Adopted Children
CCAI Launched Charity Fund
CCAI Opens Joyous Chinese Cultural School
Now known as the Joyous Cultural Club, it initially opened to offer Chinese adoptees the opportunity to learn their native language and culture. Today, students from a variety of cultures can learn about their heritage.
CCAI Sends First Medical Team to China
The brutal conditions in orphanages pushed Josh and his colleagues to go back to China. They used their donations to provide medical care to infants to decrease infant mortality.
CCAI Became the Largest China Only Agency in the US
First Heritage Tour with Josh
Lily's Orphan Care Center Opens in Hangzhou, China
Taking inspiration from Mother’s Love, Lily opened her care center to provide children with high-quality treatment. Clean clothing, one-on-one care, and proper nutrition took priority.
CCAI Launched Waiting Child Program
While CCAI was not the first agency to have a Waiting Child Program, they were the first to have an orphanage partnership for this program.
CCAI Launched Foster Care Program
Josh and LIly Received U.S. Congressional Angel in Adoption Award
CCAI Opens Offices in Florida and Georiga
Lily and Josh Adopt Anna at 9 Years Old
Lily and Josh felt a call to adopt their own child, Anna.
CCAI Sends the Largest Medical Mission Team to China
The largest medical mission team was sent to Xining.
China's First National Caretakers are Made Possible by CCAI
CCAI Became the First US Agency to be Recognized by China as a Charity
Xpress Yourself for Preteens Launched
CCAI’s first program for pre-teenage adoptees. The program turned into Adoptween in 2013, but it is currently on pause with the last event hosted in 2015.
Adopteen Camp/Conference Launched
Hosted every summer, this week-long camp provides a place for teenagers to explore their identity and connect with their peers and mentors.
CCAI Pioneered the Orphan Higher Education Program
CCAI Launched Online Parent Training
First Adoption Agency to Receive Hague Accreditation
Haiti Program Launched
Adoption in Haiti was difficult due to government inefficiency. This led to the discontinuation of the program.
Haiti Earthquake Orphan Rescue and Relief Effort
Donations helped provide rice, beans, water, and safety for orphans after the earthquake. Children in the process of adoption were also evacuated.
CCAI Ranked #1 Adoption Agency in the World
CCAI Organized Largest Heritage Tour
Adoptween Program Launched
First Adoptees Giving Back Orphanage Service Trip
Adoptees get the chance to return to their birth country to learn about their heritage and background. They visit orphanages to experience both sides of the process.
Latvia Program Launched
This program did not last long because Latvia decided to not place children in the U.S. since we have not ratified the Rights of the Child
Ukraine Program Launched
CCAI’s second-largest adoption program placed hundreds of children with families until the Russian military invasion put adoptions on hold.
Beyond Adopteen Launched
Once known as Adopstrounats, Beyond Adopteen offers adult adoptees the opportunity to connect with their community at a retreat in various locations.
Bulgaria Program Launched
Bulgaria finds homes for older children who might have medical and special needs or sibling groups.
Taiwan Program Launched
In partnership with the Cathwel orphanage, families can adopt from Taiwan.
The Park Community Center Opens
The Park offers programs to empower youth, foster community, and develop cultural competency with lifelong support.
Colombia Program Launched
Families can adopt through traditional adoption and host-to-adopt programs.
CCAI Celebrates 13,000 Children
CCAI Launches Ukraine Relief Funds
CCAI raises funds to support orphans in Ukraine during the war. Donations go towards supplies and camp sponsorships.
Belize Program Launched
One of the newer adoption programs, families can adopt children from Belize who may be older or have medical or emotional needs.
Dominican Republic Program Launched
CCAI’s newest adoption program also offers a host-to-adopt option. Many children are older or part of sibling groups.
China Closes its Borders for International Adoption
Our Values
- Children first
- Family-oriented
- Non-profit and charitable services
- Professional service with personal and caring attitude
- Teamwork
- Open communication
- Supervision with respect, care, and equality
- Leadership by example
- Honesty and Integrity
