Meet Waiting Children, Sunday, September 27, 2009

Jordan’s Furniture Hosts “The Adoption Option”
to Find Adoptive Homes for Children in Foster Care



(Reading, MA) – Have you ever thought about adopting an older child or sibling group? If you have, then come to “The Adoption Option” on Sunday, September 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Jordan’s Furniture, 50 Walker’s Brook Dr., Reading, MA.



Jordan’s Furniture hosts the event in collaboration with the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) and the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families (DCF) to help find permanent families for children in foster care. Adults and families who are interested in learning more about the process to adopt children from foster care are invited to this free informational event. Families who are new to adoption are encouraged to arrive promptly at 9:00 am for the “newcomers’ orientation” workshop to make the best use of the Adoption Option’s resources and opportunities.



“We are thrilled to continue our support of the adoption community,” says Eliot Tatelman, President and CEO of Jordan’s Furniture. “We meet so many wonderful children and families through our initiatives. Creating an environment to make these connections happen is what it is all about.”



Prospective adoptive parents will be able to meet Massachusetts’s waiting children and their social workers in an informal setting. Family entertainment, games, refreshments, and activities encourage interaction between waiting children and families.



“Adoption Parties are one of MARE’s most successful tools in placing children,” says MARE’s Executive Director Lisa Funaro. “These events allow families to meet face-to-face with children and make connections that may not happen otherwise. We are delighted to partner with Jordan’s Furniture to increase recruitment opportunities for children in foster care. These children want what most of us take for granted - the chance to blossom in a permanent, loving family.”



In Massachusetts, 2400 children currently in foster care have the goal of adoption, and more than 600 of those children have no aunt, grandparent, or other potential adopter. Nationwide, there are over 114,000 children in foster care in need of adoption. Older, school-aged children, sibling groups, children of color and/or children with special needs tend to wait the longest for families.



Prospective adoptive parents can be almost any age (18+); single, partnered, married, LGBT. Families of various income levels can adopt, as long as they have a stable source of income to support a child. There are no fees to adopt a child from foster care. Financial subsidies may be available, and children adopted from foster care are eligible to attend Massachusetts state colleges tuition-free provided they meet admission requirements.



For more information, or to register to attend The Adoption Option at Jordan’s Furniture, please visit www.mareinc.org or call MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678).

MARE is a private, non-profit organization, founded in 1957 to find “a permanent place to call HOME” for CHILDREN in foster care, including sibling groups and children who are traditionally harder to place.



Jordan’s Furniture is a nationally known four-store furniture retailer. Their innovative combination of entertainment and shopping has turned a local furniture store into a major retailer, drawing customers from all over New England. Philanthropy is a large part of the Jordan's business philosophy. During their 11-year partnership with MARE, Jordan’s has generously hosted and financed many information meetings and recruitment events. As a direct result of Jordan’s support, more than 215 children have found adoptive homes.



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www.mareinc.org

45 Franklin Street, 5th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1301

MAIN # (617) 54-ADOPT or (617) 542-3678 • MA ONLY (800) 882-1176 • FAX (617) 542-1006 •TTY (617) 542-7772