Adoption Group Sends Appreciation to Fundraiser Helpers

By Donna White

Thanks to the kind and generous support of so many in our parish community and beyond, the “Touched by Adoption” fundraiser was a huge success! We are so grateful to those who donated money, time, or talent in our efforts to raise $5000 so that we could give a copy of An Educator’s Guide to Adoption to all Shrewsbury public school personnel. Our thanks also go to Father Paul, who purchased the booklets for the St. Mary’s faculty.

The booklet gives a common-sense approach to handling sensitive class assignments from baby pictures to family trees and cultural heritage. With this booklet, parents and teachers can work in partnership so that the teacher is well prepared to help when an insensitive remark is made.

St. Mary’s Adoptive and Pre-Adoptive Parents and foster Care Providers’ Support Group decided to start this fundraiser in celebration of National Adoption Awareness month last November. We on the committee approached local businesses and asked for a tax-deductible donation. Everyone along the way received a copy of the booklet. Our motto was “Educate, educate, educate!” The response was overwhelmingly positive; we exceeded our goal; and checks are still coming in!

The booklets have been delivered, presented to every teacher, and discussed at every school building. In fact, we plan to purchase up to 50 additional booklets for faculty and staff who come on board this summer and next. Any remaining funds will be used on adoption-related books, tapes, videos, or seminars.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We had great publicity for our project. The superintendent of schools, Dr. Bent, authorized a flyer to go home with every student! The Shrewsbury Chronicle covered our story on October 30 and The Shrewsbury Record on November 13. Our “hand-over ceremony” at the school committee meeting on November 5 was aired on Shrewsbury Cable TV. We were also featured in the Shrewsbury Child Development Committee (SCDC) newsletter.

Please know that our combined efforts will make a difference not only to families touched by adoption but also to children from all families – traditional and non-traditional. Thank you very much!

We acknowledge and thank everyone who made this “Touched by Adoption” project such a success, especially these business partners.