Colorado attorney Beth Klein has organized a mass effort to evacuate orphans in Haiti who have been adopted by American parents.  Over the past 10 days, she has worked with the Department of State, the Pentagon and three orphanages to ensure that over 200 children are returned safely to the United States.

“I had an extraordinary response which began with the simple idea of getting a 737 donated to airlift children from Port Au Prince.”  she said.  Within hours, many people were stepping up in chartering planes, volunteering their time as escorts and physicians for adopted children, and donating money for the effort.  Mrs. Klein worked with Jennifer Sisk, a legislative aid with Senator Udall to organize parents, locations of orphanages, and to line up planes to bring these children to the United States.  “Jennifer and I worked around the clock to make sure that every effort was made to support these children.  We answered calls at home started as early at 3:00 am to make sure that the parents were involved and informed.”  One of the most interesting calls was from the Pentagon offering transport planes and a back phone number so that orphanages could directly connect with planes leaving Haiti and fill seats that would otherwise be empty.  “I have never gotten a phone call from the Pentagon before; quite surprising that a normal citizen could have this impact.

For more information about this effort check out:

NBC Nightly news feature:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#35021839