Gladney Center for Adoption Celebrates 1000th International Placement!

Gladney Center for Adoption
Wednesday, 27 March 2002

Tommy and Karen Gilstrap of Fort Worth are coming home from Guatemala with a very special treasure--their new daughter, Maria. Nine-month old Maria is coming to the United States to begin a new life with her new forever family. "For a child living in an orphanage, an adoption with an American family is a major step in creating a bright future," says Marshall Williams, Vice President of Adoption. Gladney's mission of "creating bright futures through adoption" has defined the agency's commitment to the 25,000 children that have been placed in permanent, loving homes.

Maria is Tommy and Karen's first child "This is a dream come true", says Karen. "We can't believe we are taking our little girl home". Tommy is employed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Karen is employed by Southwestern Seminary.

Gladney's international adoption programs have grown and become a major part of the Gladney family. However, Gladney's dedication to children living in orphanages extends beyond adoption. Each year, Gladney commits thousand of dollars into humanitarian aid, resulting in improved living conditions for the children living in the orphanages. For couples interested in International Adoption, opportunities exist in Russia, Romania, China, Thailand, Mexico, Guatemala and Ecuador. For more information, please log on to www.gladney.org.

Who: Gladney Center for Adoption

What: 1000th International Placement

Where: DFW International Airport: Upper Level Terminal A, Gate 35

When: Wednesday, March 27 at 1:30 p.m.

Why: Celebrating Gladney's 1000th Placement of an International Child iwth Local Family

For more information, or to contact Gladney Center for Adoption, see their website at: www.ednagladney.org