Gift of Adoption Fund

In February, Gift of Adoption Fund was featured in the February/March 2006 issue of Adoption Today magazine.
Click here to read the featured article.

AMY SILBERBERG CHAPTER (MINNESOTA) EVENTS

The Amy Silberberg Chapter of the Gift of Adoption Fund, is hosting an inaugural event called The Rod Simons Golf for The Gift charity celebrity golf tournament on Thursday, June 19th at the Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, WI.

This tournament will feature a fun 18-hole fivesome scramble format with a local Minnesota sports or media celebrity paired with each sponsor’s foursome. The event includes contests and prizes for skill and luck on every hole, team prizes, carts, lunch, food and beverages on the course, dinner, a deluxe player gift package and much more all included, at a world class championship golf course.

For more information, email giftofadoptionmn@hotmail.com

Following golf, there will be a family dinner event where prizes are awarded and wonderful stories will be shared by families whose lives were enriched by the grants made possible from the Gift of Adoption Fund.

Fourth Annual Fall Gala Save the Date
The Amy Silberberg Chapter of the Gift of Adoption Fund will host its fourth Fall Gala on October 25, 2008. The event will take place at the Minneapolis Central Library, the first Minneapolis library to be built in over 40 years. The library made its grand debut on May 20, 2006, and this Cesar Pelli-designed building has already cemented its place as a Twin Cities architectural landmark. The gala will feature a cocktail party, adoption program and silent auction.

ILLINOIS EVENTS

To RSVP, please print and complete this RSVP card and mail to:
Gift of Adoption
P.O. Box 567
Techny, IL 60082

"Willow Springs chef shares the roots and recipes of his legendary life"
See the full article in Suburban Life
"Area families support gift that keeps on giving"
See the full article in The Doings

WISCONSIN EVENTS

Local Donors to be Honored at Zaffiro’s Celebration of Adoption Event

With the generous support and involvement of Rose Zaffiro and with a generous donation by David Marcus, Zaffiro’s Pizza will be hosting a Celebration of Adoption event to benefit the Wisconsin chapter of the Gift of Adoption Fund. The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22nd at Zaffiro’s Pizza (1724 N Farwell, Milwaukee). The event is to honor donors who have contributed to help make the dream of adoption complete for five Wisconsin families. The generosity of Wisconsin area contributors will make it possible for these waiting children to be nurtured and loved by families that value and want them – beyond all expression!

The Gift of Adoption Fund is a national not-for-profit charity that inspires adoptions by giving grants that put adoption in reach for the 140 million children worldwide in need of families. The Gift of Adoption provides funding to qualified parents who apply for help and whose applications are approved through a review process. Founded locally in 1996 by Gene and Lucy Wyka of Grafton, the Fund’s six volunteer-led chapters have given more than $1.6 million away so that 520 more children now have families to call their very own.

One of the families currently being helped is the Riley family from Highland, WI. The Riley’s opportunity to adopt a child through their experiences as foster parents arose before they had the funds saved to complete the adoption. Through a Gift of Adoption Fund grant, the Riley family was able to overcome the financial obstacles presented to them and joyfully completed the adoption, bringing a precious newborn into the loving care and safety of their home.

For information about local support of the Gift of Adoption Fund and how to help Wisconsin families, visit the Wisconsin Area Giving Circles at www.giftofadoption.org/wigivingcircle.asp

SOUTH FLORIDA EVENTS

The South Florida Gift of Adoption Fund 2nd Annual Gala raises $50,000

"More than $50,000 was raised at a March 1 gala at Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton to provide grants to families adopting children in special circumstances."
See the full article in the Palm Beach Post

Pictured above, Grant recipients Sean and Jahna were honored at the March 1 South Florida Chapter Gala and are shown here with Victoria Rowell. Victoria joined the Gala as the first recipient of the Gift of Adoption Celebration of Adoption Award, an award given to individuals or groups who are helping to unite children with forever families.

NATIONAL NEWS

The Gift of Adoption Fund Announces Grant from the Ralph and Eileen Swett Foundation in honor of Gift of Adoption Founders, Gene and Lucy Wyka

TECHNY ILLINOIS April 10, 2008 -- The Gift of Adoption Fund is excited to announce that the Ralph and Eileen Swett Foundation of Austin, Texas awarded the Gift of Adoption Fund a $100,000 grant in honor of our founders, Gene and Lucy Wyka. $50,000 was awarded to support the launch of two new fundraising initiatives: the Giving Circle and Community Outreach programs. The grant includes an additional $50,000 for operations that can be earned through dollar-for-dollar matching gifts for contributions generated through these two new fundraising programs.

About Giving Circles
Giving Circles leverage the power of many to do the extraordinary by giving contributors the direct experience and joy of helping the most vulnerable among us - a child without a parent. Giving Circles align donor gifts with a specific waiting child to foster a deep connection between their generosity of spirit and the forever changed life of a child. Like traditional investment clubs, Giving Circles pool the donations of like-minded individuals to generate a much more meaningful return. Giving Circle leaders pledge to raise the donations necessary to fund one adoption grant ($3,500). Up to $35,000 will match revenue raised through Giving Circles. To qualify for the matching gift, Giving Circles must be among the first ten to reach their $3,500 goal and they must include the contributions of at least five (5) new Gift of Adoption donors. For more information, please contact Pam Devereux at pdevereux@giftofadoption.org or (877) 905-2784 ext. 404

About Community Outreach Committees
Community Outreach Committees are volunteer teams that bring the Gift of Adoption mission to life through their fundraising and outreach events and efforts in a particular geographic area. Up to $15,000 will match the revenue raised by events of new Community Outreach Committees. The Illinois chapter of Gift of Adoption has recently formed a Western Suburbs Community Outreach Committee and is planning its first annual gala for this May in Western Springs. Committees can be formed within an existing chapter state or in totally new markets where leadership emerges. If you are interested in joining or forming a community outreach committee, please contact Tina Rounds at trounds@giftofadoption.org or (877) 905-2367 ext. 405. We would love to partner with you to make this happen!

We are extremely grateful to the Swett Foundation for their generosity and investment in these new programs. If you have any questions about this grant or these programs, please contact Gift of Adoption at (877) 905-2367.