Happy New Year! Here are some of  Children Awaiting Parents'  upcoming events in 2016!

E-Newsletter: January 2016
Welcome to CAP's January Newsletter! Read about this year's successful programs, learn about adoption from foster care and catch a glimpse of next year's exciting activities that will help more foster youth find their forever family...
Message from Our Executive Director: Charles Reaves

As we kickoff our newsletter for 2016, I would like to share just a few of the wonderful accomplishments that made 2015 a successful year for Children Awaiting Parents.
  • We were honored and humbled to receive a gift of $600,000 from an anonymous donor. The generous donation will allow us to expand our mission that every child is adoptable and deserving of a permanent and loving home!
  • We submitted our application to become a New York State license adoption agency. This recognition will allow CAP to provide continuous support for children and families throughout the entire adoption process.
  • In 2015, we received $39,500 in grants, that supported the programs and services we provide for children in foster care and families seeking to adopt.
  • Our photolisting specialist registered over a 150 children online, providing them with more exposure to prospective families looking to adopt.
  • Cap's community outreach specialist held over 20 informational meetings, 15 presentations, and worked with the county to place 14 youth and adoptive placements. In addition, they collaborated with other agencies to assist in 47 adoptions.
  • We brought on a volunteer coordinator that has expanded our data base to well over 100 dedicated and caring volunteers.
  • The first week in May, we introduced a new special event, the" Kentucky Derby" that we are very excited about, and feel confident that it will grow into a signature fundraiser for this organization for years to come
These are just some of the highlights I'm proud to say our organization was able to achieve last year! Each New Year brings new challenges, but with all of your continued support, I'm confident we will meet those challenges and make 2016 a success!

Thank you,

Charles Reaves
Executive Director 
Waiting Child Feature: Michael

Birth Date: July, 1999
State: New York

Michael is a sweet, soft-spoken young man who has been described as "intelligent with a large vocabulary and a friendly personality." He has a big heart and is concerned about others, especially animals, which is why he decided to become a vegan
 
Learn more or inquire on Michael here
CAP surpassed our goal to raise $5,000 during Roc the Day!

Thanks to our generous donors, CAP raised $6,200 during the Roc the Day pledge drive through the United Way on 12/1/15. Because we reached the $5,000 mark, we qualified to receive a matching gift of $5,000 from a private donor, for a total of $11,200. Funds raised will help us find more homes for youth in foster care! This is the most CAP has ever raised through Roc the Day. We are very thankful to everyone who believed in our mission and contributed to help more waiting youth be adopted into loving homes.
 

Save the Date: CAP's Annual Kentucky Derby Party: May 6, 2016

Our Kentucky Derby was so much fun last year, we decided to do it again! Get ready to break out your big, frilly hats and bow ties for a Derby-style event with lots of southern flair!

Get your friends together for this fun event that will raise money to help more waiting youth find adoptive homes.

We are actively looking for event sponsors, in-kind donations for our silent auction, and individuals interested hosting pre-derby parties to decorate a wooden horse that will race in our Derby!

The Derby Party will take place on Friday, May 6th, 2016 at Ballroom 384, at City Grill, on East Avenue in Rochester, NY. Guests will enjoy our version of a horse race game, silent auction, live music, mint juleps, good food, special desserts and great fun! Follow CAP's Pinterest board and our facebook page to get ideas for fashion, hats, and what to expect at our Derby. Register and find out more on our website!
Meet Adoptive Parent: Laurie Robinson

For Laurie Robinson, adopting her son Danny, when he was 10-years-old, forever changed the way she looked at the world.  

"He's the greatest 16 year old kid in the world! I've probably learned as much about myself as a person and the kind of person I want to be as much as I've taught him in the last 6 years", says Laurie.   
 
Heart Gallery photos of waiting youth. Photo by Karin Nowicki
CAP's 2015 Heart Gallery and National Adoption Month a Success!
 
CAP was very pleased to host Dr. Michael Bradley as our guest speaker for our November 2015 Heart Gallery. The Adoptive Parent, Award-winning Author and Adolescent Psychologist spoke about his experience adopting his daughter from the foster care system and offered practical advice for parents of teens.

Dr. Bradley speaking at the Heart Gallery Luncheon
Dr. Bradley speaking at the Heart Gallery Luncheon
Dr. Bradly shared his powerful story of how his family's decision to stay committed to their daughter was rewarded, despite the initial challenges and lack of support from family and friends. He compared adoptive parents or "special op.s parents" to people who restore cars verses people who buy a brand new one: Adoptive parents should earn respect because they put in a lot of hard work and T.L.C. to achieve a finished product- a well-connected and loved individual.

Each year, our Heart Gallery ushers in our National Adoption Month celebration by bringing awareness to the need for adoptive homes for older youth in foster care. The Heart Gallery features professional photographs of youth who are waiting for an adoptive family. Local photographers volunteer their time to contribute authentic, beautiful representations of waiting youth's personalities that give them a chance at adoption.
Upcoming Events
 
  • Adoption Information Meeting and Foster/Adoption Training
Interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent? CAP hosts general information meetings on the second Wednesday of every month at our  Office: 274 N. Goodman St.,  Rochester, NY 14607  (Inside the Children's Institute).  Learn all you need to know about foster care adoption, the process and how to get started ! Please  RSVP to Veronica at 585-232-5110 or veronica@capbook.org
 
  • Council of Adoptive Parents Support Group (Starting up again in February!)

The first group begins February 23rd and will continue the last Tuesday of every month. 

New families & their children are always welcome!

6:00 PM:  CAP office
274 N. Goodman St., 
Rochester , NY 14607 (Village Gate)  
RSVP 585.232.5110 or email Veronica  

  • Teen Panel

Tuesday March 8, 2016, 6:00pm, in Geneva, NY. 

Come hear Western New York's most resilient youth speak about what it's like to spend your childhood in foster care. This is a teen panel where our youth will answer various questions, given by a moderator, about their experiences in care.

Register by contacting Ilona Russell: 585-232-5110

Children Awaiting Parents | 274 N. Goodman St., Ste. D-103, Rochester, NY 14607 |
 585-232-5110 or 1-888-835-8802 |  info@capbook.org | www.ChildrenAwaitingParents.org
STAY CONNECTED: