Each November, the nation celebrates the heartfelt moment when foster children come together with their “forever families” through National Adoption Week. As someone who serves on two nonprofit boards of organizations that further this mission, Partnerships for Children and Foster Angels of Central Texas, I was especially touched to witness many of my Keller Williams Realty International family members participating in the festivities. With more than 6,000 Central Texas children in need of foster care, service with any related organizations is more important than ever and not surprisingly, the Austin philanthropic community bands together to help meet these needs.
Here’s a glimpse of how our Keller Williams family participated in National Adoption Week.
Settlement Home for Children
Keller Williams was a platinum sponsor for the Settlement Home for Children annual Charity Garage and Estate Sale. Don’t let the term garage sale fool you. More than 25,000 shoppers sprint to Palmer Event Center for this shopping experience. To get the full picture, check out this video. Members of the KWRI team volunteered at the event benefitting the organization, which offers treatment centers, transitional living, group homes, and adoption programs. If you missed this year’s event but want to help in 2015, your opportunities begin in January when the home begins taking donations. As you can imagine, it takes a while to acquire that much inventory!
Partnerships for Children
I will openly admit that I am biased. This organization introduced me to the meaningful work that is conducted in Central Texas to help children in need of a safe home. Partnerships for Children stands out from the rest because it serves children at ANY point in the Child Protective Services system, not just those in foster care. Within the last year, when another related organization closed its doors, Partnerships acquired the Heart Gallery of Central Texas, a program that helps older children, groups of siblings, and children with special needs find their forever families. Hundreds gathered at the Heart Gallery Reveal, an event at the world-class Blanton Museum of Art on the University of Texas at Austin campus, introducing Partnership’s direction of the program. Local photographers volunteer to take portraits of these children, which are displayed throughout the year like an art gallery. As the Partnership’s executive director thanked the crowd, she introduced a loving couple who pointed to a portrait of a child, the child they just embraced as their own. There was not a dry eye in the room. Meet some of the children who are looking for a home through Time Warner Cable videos like this one. In addition to the support during National Adoption Week, KWRI departments have signed up to volunteer with the Holiday Wishes Program.
Helping Hand Home for Children
Hundreds of Austin business and philanthropic leaders gathered to show support for the Helping Hand Home for Children. This organization provides a residential treatment center as well as foster and adoption assistance. The Champions for Children luncheon raises awareness and funds while recognizing outstanding leaders who have tirelessly dedicated time, talent, and treasure to this organization. Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey captured the crowd in his keynote address with his personal account of being a neglected child, the long-term impact it has had on his life, and his road to recovery. Once again, KWRI was represented well with team members fully engaged in the event.
While National Adoption Week in Austin is celebrated in MANY other ways, including adoption ceremonies and celebrations, the support that our Keller Williams family showed at these events is indicative of our loving and giving staff. More important, the questions about additional volunteer opportunities that rolled in after the events about how to get more involved are a promise that we will continue to make an impact on Central Texas youth for many years to come!
Tags: Austin, Central Texas, Champions for Children, Community, Foster Angels of Central Texas, Foster Children, heart, Heart Gallery, Helping Hand Home, Keller Williams Realty International, KWRI, Partnerships for Children, Service, Settlement Home for Children, Settlement Home Garage Sale
