Page 17 - 2021 Spring Summer Our Hands
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ADOPTION


                             SI XTH ANNUAL FOREV ER HOME RUN R AISES $45K

                 utheran Adoption Service (LAS) Sixth Annual Forever   sponsorships with David & Marilyn Lochner, Paul &
                 Home Run raised more than $45,000 to support the      Deborah Coughenour and Raymond & Louise Green.
           Lkids and families in 2020. For the first time ever, a      Partnerships like this are invaluable to LAS!
            virtual program was offered to give participants the option
            of walking or running a 5K at their leisure – anywhere in   The Forever Home Run began in 2015 as a partnership
            Michigan.                                                  between LAS and Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church to help
                                                                       raise awareness and funds for foster children waiting for their
            An innovative and socially distanced “Drive-In” event      forever families. All proceeds benefit children awaiting a
            in honor of the 2020 Run was held at Beautiful Savior      forever family and adoptive families of LAS.
            Lutheran Church on October 17. Carside activities and
            inspirational speakers made this a welcomed outing for     Mark your calendar and start training now for our 7th
            participating families, despite the pandemic.              Annual Forever Home Run 5K and 1K Children’s Dress up
                                                                       Dash in beautiful Bloomfield Hills on October 9. Virtual
            LAS was incredibly grateful for the financial backing of   participants are also welcomed back to participate all
            presenting sponsor, Morgan Stanley; Gold sponsor, Healthy   weekend October 8 - 10 from your very own neighborhood.
            Living; and Silver sponsors, Carrier Great Lakes, Clark
            Hill Foundation, Clayton & McKervery PC and PNC            Visit lasadoption.org/foreverhomerun for more
            Bank. We’re especially appreciative of generous personal   information.



                                                                                      Zooming through an Adoption

                                                                              For so many adoptive parents including Lauren and David
                                                                              they felt like everyone was so involved for so long and it is
                                                                              hard to be patient when you are waiting to adopt. When
                                                                              COVID showed up it
                                                                              slowed everything down.
                                                                              The case worker provided
                                                                              them with a roadmap of all
                                                                              the steps. When the court
                                                                              opened up they found out
                                                                              they were only willing to
                                                                              schedule just a few Zoom
                                                                              adoptions. David and
                                                                              Lauren were some of the
                                                                              few that got in!

                                                                              With four biological children of their own, the girls will
                                                                              make this a family of 8. David and Lauren have been
                                                                              thrilled to be able to step in to provide a “Forever Home”
                                                                              for the girls. The couple first met the girls through the
                                                                              original foster family the sisters were placed in. They
                                                                              became respite care providers to help out. When the
                                                                              original family decided it was not time for them to adopt,
        If you ready to get outside for a fun-filled family outing to show off   David and Lauren jumped right into getting their foster
        your bean bag tossing skills - then the LAS Forever Home Toss Charity   care license and pushed hard through the process in hopes
        Cornhole Challenge is for you!
                                                                              to adopt the girls into their family.  Lauren and David
        The challenge will take place on Saturday, August 28 at Kensington    know their lives are very full now. They are excited to be
        Metroparks – East Boat Launch located in Milford, Michigan. Cost: $20   nearly a week out from the official Zoom adoption. With
        per person or $30 for a team of two to participate.                   all they learned about children in need in the process of
        Proceeds will directly support LAS adoptive families and unmatched    fostering-to-adopt, both Lauren and David were impacted
        youth waiting for a Forever Home.                                     on a “heart” level.  Lauren can still imagine a day when her
                                                                              children are older and the couple may be able to return to
        Inaugural sponsors for this event include presenting organization
        sponsors: Authentic Kitchen and Design and M.J. Whelan                fostering children again. “We’ll be back” she said, “You’ll
        Construction; Big Board Sponsors Par Rehab Services and an            see our name again.”
        anonymous donor; and Junior Board sponsors: Scott Barry of Centria,
        Billy Bauman of Spark Packaging LLC and an anonymous donor.           To learn more about being an adoptive parent, visit
                                                                              www.lasadoption.org
        Visit lasadoption.org/events for registration information.

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