By Rita L. Soronen, President & CEO One year ago, our world changed dramatically and in ways we could never have imagined as COVID-19 spread, closing schools, shutting down businesses and leaving us with unrelenting separation and longing for the physical connection of family and friends. As the
Washington Michael, Roman and Lilliana often lived in separate foster homes as their family of origin struggled with addiction. By the time the siblings were ages 9, 8 and 6, they had spent more than half their lives apart, longing for a permanent place to call home. “It was really tiring, having to
By Rita L. Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Having a safe place to call home means everything — especially during the COVID-19 crisis. But every day, too many youth age out of foster care without ever knowing the security and stability of a forever family. With
“My life was a challenge from the beginning,” recalls Daisy. Daisy’s grandmother cared for her from a young age. And after she passed away, Daisy moved in and out of other family members’ homes, eventually being placed in foster care at age 15. Those difficult losses added layers of grief to the tra
Dear Friends, The last few weeks have been incredibly uncertain, as the world navigates the most serious global health crisis we have faced in our lifetime, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Schools are closed, non-essential workers are staying home and social distancing has become essential. We
