“This is such a hard thing to do, to take a leap of faith that costs so much up front, without knowing if anyone will help out.
Thank you so much for having faith in us. I do not think that we could have afforded this adoption without your help.”
Daniel & Melissa (adopted Sanjith in 2009)
Adoption changes lives. Gene and Lucy Wyka knew this deeply having adopted three of their own children.
Paying it Forward
Because they were blessed with the resources to afford the financial burden poised by three adoptions, Lucy and Gene decided to pay it forward. So in 1996, with the sole purpose of helping children get adopted, the Wyka’s establish a private family giving foundation: The Gift of Adoption Fund.
“We couldn’t help but notice how so many other hopeful parents were not as fortunate as us financially,” noted Lucy and Gene.
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Founders Gene and Lucy Wyka discuss their reasons for starting Gift of Adoption
“Yet it quickly became obvious that under the existing private fund structure, we would only be able to scratch the surface in terms of providing financial assistance to those longing to adopt,” added Lucy.
Did you know?
The average household income of a Gift of Adoption grant recipient is $43,500 showing the means to raise a child but less so the ability to come up with the significant upfront adoption fees.
From Family Fund to Non-Profit
To strength their vision, Lucy and Gene changed the legal status of the fund from a private to a public charity. This allowed affiliate organizations – chapters – to then be formed. Functioning as fundraising partners, these chapters share the Gift of Adoption Fund’s non-profit 501(c) 3 status while rallying local efforts across the country.
Did you know?
Children languishing in orphanages are often malnourished, neglected, have slow or halted brain growth, and do not develop appropriate ‘emotional’ brain centers.
Deeply Touched & Grateful
“We spent four months in Peru awaiting approval to adopt our first son,” recalls Lucy.
“This gave us a lot of time to reflect on our circumstances and how grateful we were to be able to afford the time and cost involved in adopting.”
Did you know?
Research shows – moving a child from foster care or an orphanage into a loving home permanently improves the child’s prospects for the future.
“We began to wonder what we could do to help others who were not as fortunate,” adds Gene.
Because adoption touched their lives so deeply, Gene and Lucy began The Gift of Adoption foundation in 1996 with a single focus – to help others to adopt.
Today, their sense of purpose and determination is changing lives.
