News
Adoption: Why Should We Care?
Adoptive Families Association of BC: Because we can change the lives of 1000 BC children before time runs out
November is Adoption Awareness Month in BC, and Wine In The Sky (November 20, Vancouver Lookout) is a centerpiece of activities. But why should anyone who is not directly involved with adoption care? Because of June and James. June is 21. Four years ago, after spending most of her life in foster homes, she was adopted. With a family to applaud her when she graduates from university, dance at her wedding, and support her when she starts her own family, June’s chances for success in life are good. James, also 21, spent most of his life in foster homes, too. But, unlike June, he “aged out” of the system at 19. Without the permanency of a family to celebrate his successes, catch him when he falls, or just make him a birthday cake, research shows that James is significantly less likely to succeed in life. The following numbers paint a stark picture for young people who reach 19 without finding a permanent family:
- Girls are four times more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy.
- 45% of youth will experience a form of homelessness in their first year out of care.
- 73% of young offenders are former youth in care.
- 21% of youth in care graduate high school compared to 78% of the general population.
June and James (not their real names) are just two of the reasons that people across North America celebrate Adoption Awareness Month. In BC alone, there are almost 1000 more reasons just like them.
“Throughout November,” says Karen Madeiros, Executive Director of the Adoptive Families Association of BC (AFBC), “we host events designed to raise awareness about adoption, raise funds to support adoption, and above all to celebrate adoption as a way of building strong families, one child at a time.”
On November 20 at 7 PM at the Vancouver Lookout, Global TV’s Catherine Pope (and co-host TBA), an adoptive parent herself, will host this fun and sophisticated evening featuring:
- Fine wines from around the world paired with gourmet foods from across BC.
- Live jazz performed by musicians hand-picked by Vancouver’s Gabriel Mark Hasselbach.
- Live and silent auctions, including an exclusive wine section and the Vancouver firefighters’ “Fire in the Kitchen.”
“June and James and 1000 other children in BC are what Wine In The Sky is all about,” says Madeiros. “At Wine In The Sky, we will have the perfect ingredients for a spectacular evening.”
“But the real story isn’t the event,” she says. “It’s the children who are waiting for families. For too many of them, time runs out. Our goal is to tell more stories like June’s—to find a family for every child.”
Tickets for Wine In The Sky are on sale now at www.bcadopt.com. Early Bird tickets (until November 5) are $95; after November 5, the price rises to $125. A VIP Group of 10 tickets goes for $1250 and includes valet parking, a complimentary drink, and a cocktail table reserved up front.
For more information about Wine In the Sky, call 694-689-1463 or email wineinthesky@thefinerdetails.ca. For more information about the Adoptive Families Association of BC, call 1-877-ADOPT-07 (1-877-236-7807) or 604-320-7330, email info@bcadoption.com, or visit www.bcadopt.com.
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November is Adoption Awareness Month. AFABC is hosting events around BC throughout November. Visit www.bcadopt.com for information. Ethical Bean Coffee is running a novel fundraising venture on our behalf this month. Visit www.ethicalbean.com for information.
Wine In The Sky is presented by
Wine In The Sky is sponsored by
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