Speaking
Izidor is a sought-after speaker, utilizing his life story to educate and encourage audiences to participate in orphan care.
Over the last twenty years, Izidor's work on behalf of vulnerable children has taken him to dozens of states across America, from California to Washington, D.C., and Texas to Wisconsin. He also travels to Romania regularly to speak up on behalf of the children left behind, meeting with government agencies, civic organizations, nonprofits, and the press.
Izidor is available to speak at events for organizations in the United States, Canada, and Europe that promote orphan care and the value of special needs children.
When I speak to people, I get to move past my scars and offer others the hope I found on the other side of healing.
Children around the world still suffer. But if we advocate for them together, we can expose the problems and make a difference.
- Izidor Ruckel
"I've visited and worked in orphanages all over the world, but nothing compares to the horrific institutions I saw in Romania in the 1990's. Izidor Ruckel spent 11 years in one of those tragic places. Many adoptees would have remained bitter and broken because of it. Instead, Izidor chose to forgive and views his challenging past in Romania as a gift to be used for good. He is an inspiration to us all. If Izidor chooses not to live as a victim, how can we?"
Dr. Jane Aronson
CEO, Worldwide Orphans
Adoption Medicine Specialist
Orphan Advocacy in the United States
Izidor has appeared in:
Morgan Freeman interviewed Izidor for the docu-series The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman where Izidor shared how adoption changed his life in the episode "the power of love."
Tracey Tiernan interviewed Izidor for her podcast "Your Brighter Day," where he explained why advocating for orphans is so important to him.
The annual College Ethics Symposium in Hilton Head, SC, featured Izidor as its keynote speaker.
Izidor toured several colleges as the featured speaker for the Both Ends Believing, leading group discussions to enlist the next generation of leaders to find solutions for the world's orphans.
Orphan Advocacy in Romania
Izidor has appeared in:
Izidor speaks at an orphan advocacy conference in Romania.
Izidor and his mom, Marlys Ruckel, made news across Europe when they appeared on Pro-TV's well-known, live talk show La Maruta for several days, offering a beautiful picture of an adoptive family's love and commitment to each other.
Izidor served two years in Romania at Love Light Romania, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support services to children and families affected by AIDS/HIV and poverty.
Izidor hosted the Romanian premiere of the limited series The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman in Bucharest, followed by a press conference with a panel of Romanian child welfare experts.
Izidor partnered with talk show host Catalin Maruta to facilitate over a dozen adoptee reunions with their birth families.
