U.S. news stories

All of Life Podcast: The Power of Belonging

All of Life Podcast: The Power of Belonging

Sarah Padbury, producer and writer of the short film IZIDOR, participates in a panel discussion on belonging and hospitality on the All of Life podcast at Redemption Church Tempe (Arizona). Sarah shares how an orphan’s life was changed by learning he “belonged,” and how she was personally changed while filming the movie on-location in Romania….

Abandoned, Adopted, Advocate: Izidor Ruckel’s Incredible Journey to Healing

Abandoned, Adopted, Advocate: Izidor Ruckel’s Incredible Journey to Healing

Tracey Tiernan interviews orphan advocate Izidor Ruckel and screenwriter Sarah Padbury for her podcast, “Your day brighter: Real reasons to have hope in this world.” The duo discuss how they met, Izidor’s journey from orphan to advocate, and how they are producing a limited series based on his life story that they hope will change…

The Atlantic: Can an unloved child learn to love?

The Atlantic: Can an unloved child learn to love?

The Atlantic takes a deep dive into Izidor Ruckel’s story of surviving a horrific Romanian orphanage. Presenting comprehensive analysis of institutionalized children from experts, the almost 9,000-word story is the most in-depth look to date of what he and tens of thousands of Romanian orphans endured under Nicolae Ceaușescu’s Communist regime. Read The Atlantic article…

Morgan Freeman interviews Izidor Ruckel for new docuseries

Morgan Freeman interviews Izidor Ruckel for new docuseries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Morgan Freeman interviews Izidor Ruckel for new docuseriesThe Story of Us with Morgan Freeman highlights the power of love with Ruckel’s story LOS ANGELES, Calif., October 2, 2017 – Morgan Freeman interviewed Izidor Ruckel for the six-part docuseries The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, premiering on National Geographic in the U.S. on October 11…

Los Angeles Times: Former Romanian orphan in the U.S. helps…

Los Angeles Times: Former Romanian orphan in the U.S. helps…

Los Angeles Times reporter John M. Glionna traveled to Colorado in 2015 to interview Izidor Ruckel. The meeting reunited Glionna and Ruckel for the first time since 1991. Glionna’s first story covered Ruckel’s transition into his new adoptive family after arriving in America at age eleven. What is Ruckel’s life like now, almost 25 years later? Click here to read…

World Magazine: From orphan to advocate

World Magazine: From orphan to advocate

Izidor Ruckel works the night shift at a Denver Walmart. Adopted from Romania in 1991 at age 11, he also speaks around the United States about the plight of Romanian orphans, especially those with special needs … Read the full story here at World Magazine