Affording Adoption
One family's great idea could spark your imagination
Steve and Wendi knew they wanted to adopt. What they didn’t know was how they were going to finance the process.
“Most people think of domestic adoptions as being much less expensive than international adoptions,” says Wendi. “They are less, but there are still major expenses that all add up to more than most people—especially young couples—have in savings.”
So, once Steve and Wendi had their home study completed, all their paperwork in order, and their profiles ready to be reviewed by prospective birthparents, they turned their attention to money. They needed some, and the sooner the better so that they’d be ready to bring a baby home just as soon as he or she was available.
Enter Doris.
Doris, who had once employed Wendi as a nanny, knew great parent potential when she saw it and was eager to help this young couple start their family. And Doris gets things done. After hearing about a successful bowl-a-thon held by another couple, Doris approached Wendi with the idea. She loved it, and gave her friend the green light.
“Doris organized and managed pretty much the whole thing,” says Wendi. “We decided to have a live auction and door prizes to add to the fun and excitement.”
“We just went to friends and family who we thought might be able to help sponsor the event or donate prizes and auction items,” explains Steve. “Their enthusiasm and support were amazing. It reminded us that we never should hesitate to ask for help because most people are just waiting for the opportunity.”
That willingness to help became very obvious to Steve and Wendi on a warm day in mid-July. Seventy people gathered at the Airway Lanes in Waterford, Michigan, for an evening of fun. Altogether, “Bowling 4 Adoption” raised nearly $4,300.
“It was a fun way to raise money,” says Wendi. “And a wonderful reminder of the value of friends and family.”
The family, by the way, has grown. A year after the fundraiser, Steve and Wendi brought their daughter, Liliana, home from the hospital. Chances are good that, sometime in the next few years, they’ll be teaching little Lili how to bowl.
More information
For more information on affording adoption, please visit our adoption funding page.
