Gene Wyka Co-Founder of the Gift of Adoption Fund, a 501(c)(3) Public Charity he and his wife Lucy established in 1996. The Gift of Adoption Fund awards grants, in the form of a subsidy, to adoptive parents to help them cover the costs associated with adopting a child.

Gene was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age seven. He has been legally blind since his early 20’s. Along with other complications from the disease, Gene and Lucy were unable to conceive children biologically, so they turned to adoption to start a family.

In 1991, Gene and Lucy adopted their first son from Peru. They went on to adopt two other children – a boy from Texas and their youngest daughter from Guatemala.

A Chicago native, Gene earned his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. In 1980, he started CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute Inc.) a for-profit business that offers a unique training program to professionals working in correctional institutions, hospitals, mental health and education facilities. CPI is now a recognized world leader providing training in the management of crisis situations. CPI has offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan as well as the U.S.

Gene has produced over 30 award-winning training videos on crisis management, and written several books and training manuals on the subject. He has spoken at dozens of state, national and international conferences and has trained thousands of professionals in nonviolent crisis intervention.

Gene’s business success meant that he and Lucy had the resources necessary to complete their three adoptions. They couldn’t help but notice how so many other hopeful parents were not so fortunate. They spent four months in Peru awaiting approval to adopt their first son, giving them plenty of time to reflect on this circumstance. They realized how grateful they were to be able to afford the time and cost involved in adopting and then began to wonder what they could do to help others who were not as fortunate.

Because this issue touched their lives so deeply they began a foundation in 1996 with a single focus – to help others adopt. Due to the overwhelming demand for grants in 2001, Gene and Lucy converted their foundation from a Private Family Foundation to a Public Charity.

To date, the Gift of Adoption Fund has helped more than 520 children from around the world find permanent homes, awarding over $1.6 million in grants.