The Izidor Story team came together due to their collective passion to address the global human rights issues orphans inherently face. We believe elevating Izidor’s true story to a platform that can be easily accessed through worldwide, online streaming is the best way to offer hope to orphans and enlightenment to a global society.
Our current projects include producing a short film, revealing a striking moment in Izidor’s life at the asylum, as well as producing a limited series that delves into his full, true story. Both projects are entitled IZIDOR. Click here for more information about Izidor Story, LLC.
Below are the people who are lending their talents to tell Izidor's story.
Izidor Ruckel
Author, Speaker and Co-Founder of Izidor Story, LLC - Seguin, Texas
Producer, IZIDOR (limited series and short film)
Izidor Ruckel is the author of Abandoned for Life, which reveals his life as a neglected Romanian orphan and ensuing adoption by an American family. He is also the producer of a two-time award-winning documentary about the benefits of adoption, called Given Our Chance.
A sought-after activist, Izidor speaks to groups and government agencies across the United States and Romania, advocating for vulnerable children and people with disabilities. In addition, Izidor is the general manager of a fast-food restaurant in Seguin, Texas.
Dozens of national and international media outlets have featured Izidor’s story, including The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, The Atlantic, BBC World Service, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, ABC News 20/20, and all of Romania’s national news outlets.
(Full bio and press coverage here.)
Sarah Padbury
Co-Founder and Creative Director, Izidor Story, LLC - Phoenix, Ariz.
Producer and Writer, IZIDOR (limited series and short film)
Sarah is a producer, writer, actress and child advocate. She extensively researched Izidor’s story by interviewing Izidor, his family, his orphanage friends, several Americans and Romanians involved in his rescue, and former orphanage workers.
In 2004, Sarah helped start Project 1.27, a nonprofit that recruits, trains, and supports foster and adoptive parents. Today, Project 1.27 leads a national network of 18 bridge organizations who serve 7,000 children annually. Sarah has written parenting curriculum and trained hundreds of adoptive parents.
Sarah and her husband Chris are 7x adoptive parents with children from international orphanages and U.S. foster care. As a public speaker, she educates groups on the needs of vulnerable children. LinkedIn.
David Kabbe
Producer and Director, IZIDOR (short film) - Los Angeles, Calif.
David has 20 years of experience in producing, coordinating and directing a wide range of productions, including independent films, television, live events, tentpole premieres, talk shows, and multimedia events. He has worked with many of the major studios, such as Paramount, Universal, DreamWorks, and Warner Brothers. IZIDOR is David's film directorial debut.
David grew up traveling the world, which instilled in him a passion to give voice to humanitarian issues. As a filmmaker, his travels include interviewing Filipino warlords, documenting genocide in war-torn Iraq, and recording the recent atrocities in Ukraine. His experience as a foster child mentor opened his eyes to the needs of orphans. LinkedIn.
Gary Coiro
Advisor (Izidor Story, LLC) - Baltimore, Md.
Gary has worked as a nonprofit advisor for over 30 years. Through his company, Servant Network, Gary counsels in the areas of organizational assessment, strategic planning, major donor cultivation, feasibility studies, and nonprofit campaigns – helping raise over $100 million. In addition, Gary is a pastoral staff member at a large multi-cultural church in the Baltimore, Md. area. Website.
Claes Jonasson
Art and Website Design (Izidor Story, LLC) - Little Rock, Ark.
Hailing from Sweden, Claes is passionate about storytelling. He is the owner and Creative Director of Claes Jonasson Design LLC. For over 40 years, Claes has crafted award-winning media and design solutions for higher education, nonprofits and small businesses, both in the U.S. and abroad. He is also a blogger and fiction writer. Website.
Jodi Slein
Administrative Assistant (Izidor Story, LLC) - Baltimore, Md.
After seeing Izidor’s story on ABC News 20/20 in 1993, Jodi and her husband, Sean, were inspired to adopt their son Michael from a Romanian institution. She has a passion to help adoptees and adoptive parents heal from trauma.
