2023
A Year of Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present, & Preparing for the FuturE
We celebrated our 135th anniversary, while developing our new 10-year Strategic Plan. This plan will give the organization an expanded vision for the future with new possibilities for the women, children, and families we serve and new opportunities for you (our donors) to see the impact of your giving.
We are refocusing on our core strengths, and your support will help Gladney continue to evolve as the premier adoption provider, implementing excellent, evidence-informed adoption services and lifelong support for children and their biological and adoptive families, while championing high-quality, ethical practices. We will lead with others alongside us and lift the voices of the clients we serve.
As one part of our new Strategic Plan, we launched a pilot program to offer counseling services for our clients
- A Message From Gladney Center Board Chair, Laura Wheat, And Gladney Center President & CEO, Mark Melson
- 2023 At a Glance
- Mission & Vision
- Gladney On The Map
- The Gladney Team
- Our Impact
- Story Worth Sharing
- Financials
- Celebrations & Events
- Boards of Directors & Executive Team
- Opportunities for Support
- Continue Learning
A MESSAGE FROM GLADNEY CENTER BOARD CHAIR, ROGER METZ, AND GLADNEY CENTER PRESIDENT & CEO, Mark Melson
Mission
Creating Bright Futures Through Adoption
vision
For the sake of the children and those who love them, Gladney is dedicated to creating the finest adoption experience possible, while forging new paths in serving the mission of adoption
The Gladney Why
Gladney believes every child deserves a loving and caring family
States Where Gladney Has Offices
TEXAS
- Fort Worth (Headquarters)
- Amarillo
- Austin
- Dallas
- Houston
- Lubbock
- Midland
Arkansas
- Fayetteville
Colorado
- Colorado Springs
delaware
- Brandon
Florida
- Fayetteville
Missouri
- Colorado Springs
New York
- Brandon
North Carolina
- Greenville
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City
Pennsylvania
States Where Gladney Is Licensed
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
States Where Gladney Staff Live
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Washington
Countries Where Gladney Currently Works In International Adoption And/Or Provides Humanitarian Aid Support
- Bulgaria
- China
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Ethiopia (humanitarian aid support only)
- Hong Kong
- Philippines
- Taiwan
- Thailand
Service Awards Luncheon
Gladney hosted our annual Service Awards Luncheon in March 2023.
Service Awards
5-Year
Victoria Azocar, Program Assistant, New Beginnings
Rebeca Ciavarino, Executive Administrative Assistant
Hannah Stone, Adoptive Parent Caseworker, Domestic
10-Year
Mary Ownbey, Human Resources Assistant
Joe Smith, Maintenance Coordinator
15-Year
Natalie Bowen, Director of Foundation Relations & Donor Communications
Mary Chapman, Lead Asia Program Caseworker
Ann Spriggs, Gladney Home Supervisor
Sue Turner, Domestic Adoption Program Assistant
25-Year
Vicki Carter, Domestic Adoption Program Assistant
Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Gladney’s Board of Directors hosted our annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon in October 2023. We were excited to recognize the achievement of our staff, as well as announce our 2023 Employees of the Year and Ruby Lee Piester Award winners. The Ruby Lee Piester Award was created in 2016 to recognize an individual employee who has gone above and beyond in their role and exhibited exceptional customer service with their clients.
Ruby Lee PiesterAward Winner
Abigail “Abi” Calzada
Adoptive Parent Counselor, Domestic Adoption
Employee of
the Year
Melanie Aguilar
Birth Parent Caseworker, Domestic Adoption
Employee of the
Year
Lexie Frazier
New Beginnings Caseworker, New Beginnings
Employee of the
Year
Elizabeth Saldana
School Outreach Coordinator, AdoptED
Domestic Infant Adoptions
Ashley Whiteside, LMSW, LCPAA
Director of Domestic Adoption Program
“In 2022, we saw improvement in the demystification of adoption. In our experience and in the lives ..."
Adoptions from Foster Care
Jennifer Hart
Director of Adoption from Foster Care Program
"In 2022, we observed a decrease in the number of families starting the process to adopt a child or sibling group ..."
Heart Gallery of North Texas
Tanya Houk, LBSW
Director of Child Advocacy
“With Gladney managing the Heart Gallery of North Texas, I see the possibility of helping more children waiting in foster care ..."
Asia Adoption Programs
Gongzhan Wu
Vice President and Managing Director – Asia Adoption Programs
“In 2022, due to lasting effects of COVID-19, international adoptions from China remained on pause ..."
Colombia Adoption Program
Ella Smith
Waiting Child Specialist – Colombia Adoption Program
“Gladney has an international adoption program for adoptable waiting children in Colombia. For this program ..."
Counseling Services Program and Gladney Home for Foster Youth
Kristin Porter, LCSW-S
Director of Counseling and Residential Services
“In 2022, we celebrated the launch of our Counseling Services program. Quality, trauma-informed counseling ..."
Post Adoption and Client Services
Bill Porter, M.Ed., LPC-S
Director of Post Adoption and Client Services
“In 2022, we continued to see adoptive parents contacting us for support, guidance, and resources as they care for their children who have histories ..."
Advocacy
Heidi Bruegel Cox
Chief Strategy Officer & General Counsel
“Gladney steps in to fill so many gaps. We advocate for improvement in the adoption field in Texas and around the country ..."
Strategic Plan
Lisa Schuessler
Chief Development Officer
“I have never been more proud or excited to be a part of Gladney. With a new 10-year strategic plan ..."
We Impacted the lives of 204 children
Children Served Through Our Waiting Child Programs
- 27 children adopted from state foster care
- 47 children available for adoption in Taiwan assessed and advocated for through our Superkids Program
- 12 children adopted from international orphanages and foster homes*
- 8 from Taiwan
- 4 from Colombia
- 8 teen girls in state foster care served in the Gladney Home Program
- 10 children in state foster care placed with foster-to-adopt families
- 6 children with special needs in an orphanage in Ethiopia provided with nurturing caregivers, medical care, and nutrition
- 10 children adopted through private adoptions (older children and medically fragile infants)
*In 2023, China began allowing adoptive families who received Travel Approval prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to travel to China to complete their child’s adoption. All other aspects of adoptions from China remain paused
1,682
expectant mothers inquired about adoption services
Expectant Mothers Chose to Be Admitted to Gladney’s Adoption Program
- 27 average age of expectant mother clients
- 38% of expectant mother clients have other children
Through 6,086 post adoption contacts , we served 1,960 clients, 836 birth parents, 823 adoptive parents, 301 adult adoptees
We offered hope and healing through 651 counseling sessions with 63 clients: 10 gladney home residents, 37 child adoptees, 7 birth parents, 4 adoptive parents, 3 adoptive siblings, 1 adult adoptee, 1 other
6500+ professionals across the U.S. were provided with adoption education through:
-
538 outreach connections
-
AdoptED reached 5,019 HIGH SCHOOLS STUDENTS THROUGH AdoptED PRESENTATIONS: 99 IN-PERSON CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS AND 239 HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH VIRTUAL CLASSROOM.
-
80 attendees through three pathways trainings
-
1,208 attendees at 23 Gladney University trainings
ADVOCATED FOR 108 CHILDREN THROUGH HEART GALLERY OF NORTH TEXAS PRESENTED BY GLADNEY CENTER FOR ADOPTION
134 volunteers donated 17,802 hours of service,
including our Transitional Care families, who provided 430 days of care for 29 babies.
Hear from Our Team
Focus on Connecting
"
Austin and Dante’s story shows the impact volunteers make every day with Gladney. We are so thankful for the ways Transitional Care Parents Nancy and Mike (and other Gladney Friends like them) support Gladney and invest time, love, care, and resources in the lives of children.
Hear from Our Team
Celebrate Growth
"
$23,414,554
Value of the endowment as of August 31, 2022
$3,153,551
Total amount contributed by donors in FY 2022
*Not including special events net
1,813
Total # of donors in FY 2022
- Total # of monthly donors in FY 2022: 24
$3,766,678
Total
Revenues
Development Revenue – $4,053,843
- Donor Contributions – $3,145,488
- Special Events, net – $900,292
* Including The 2021 Gladney Cup - Nonfinancial Asset Contributions – $8,063
Adoption Programs – $2,669,051
- Domestic Infant Adoption Program – $2,013,509
- Adoption from Foster Care Program – $330,142
- International Adoption Program – $325,400
Gladney Home Residential Foster Care Program – $451,064
Adoption.com Website Advertising Revenue – $343,078
Other – $11,856
Investment Income (Loss), net – (3,762,214)
- Dividends and Interest – $689,608
- Realized Gains – $1,187,676
- Unrealized Gains (Losses) – (5,578,671)
- Less Investment Fees – (60,827)
Expenses
50% Adoption Programs – $5,472,022
- Domestic Infant Adoption Program – $3,984,885
- Adoption from Foster Care Program – $798,840
- International Adoption Program – $688,297
15% Communication/Outreach – $1,676,673
15% Administration – $1,625,254
8% Gladney Home Residential Foster Care Program – $827,878
7% Fundraising – $819,545
5% Post Adoption & Client Services – $589,810
$11,011,182
Total
$37,945,407
Total
Assets
1% Cash and Cash Equivalents – $265,336
<1% Accounts Receivable – $180,578
1% Prepaid Expenses – $263,688
62% Investments – $23,414,554
1% Beneficial Interest in Trust – $449,121
26% Property & Equipment, Net – $10,068,672
9% Intangible Assets, net – $3,303,458
Liabilities
20% Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses – $1,448,265
9% Deferred Adoption Fee Revenue – $662,227
1% Other Liabilities – $106,283
54% Note Payable – $3,882,166
16% Line of Credit – $1,150,000
$7,248,941
Total
Financial Contributions
Contributions by Program
64% General Operations
13% Education and Outreach
5% Adoption from Foster Care Program
6% Gladney Home Residential Foster Care Program
4% Post Adoption Services
4% Strategic Planning
3% Domestic Infant Adoption Program
1% International Adoption Program and Humanitarian Aid
81% Individuals
13% Foundations/Trusts
4% Corporations
2% Government
Contributions by Constituency
net raised through Special Events in Fiscal Year 2023
(not including The Gladney Cup 2023)
In 2023 we were excited to celebrate together and support Gladney’s mission through 4 special events:
Dining and Dancing with Daddy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
104 DADS & 140 DAUGHTERS
Gladney Night at Six Flags in Arlington, Texas
2,000 GUESTS
#TeamGladney Charity Runners at the TCS New York City Marathon in New York, New York
10 RUNNERS
Adoption Rocks Concert featuring Abraham Alexander in Fort Worth, Texas
235 GUESTS
Gladney Adoption Day 2023
In honor of National Adoption Month, Gladney hosted friends and family members celebrating with families who finalized their adoptions.
Hear from Our Team
Remain Ready
"
In 2021, we learned to focus on what we could control and remain ready for the moment we could do more. When international borders remained closed, we were able to work with our partners in Taiwan, so we could send care packages and creatively gather information about waiting children who are depending on us to continue adoption advocacy here in the U.S.
Knowing someone cares makes ALL the difference. You, our donors, make the difference of us knowing there is support for Gladney’s mission and for all of us who are involved in the important, daily work of giving a child the essentials of a prepared, stable, and healthy family. For that, I will always be grateful.
Thank you
Hear from Our Team
Press Forward
"
CURRENT GLADNEY CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS – FISCAL YEAR 2023
- Roger L. Metz, Chairman
- Laura L. Wheat, Immediate Past Chairman
- Stephanie Perdue, Chairman-Elect
- Mark Melson, President & CEO, Gladney Center for Adoption
- Jeremy Tilley, Secretary
- James Tyler, Treasurer
- Matthew Bungo
- Cary Preston Butcher, III
- John F. Covington
- Alfred C. Dezzi
- Mary Beth Dudley
- Christopher J. Gaspar
- Eliza Gaines
- Duke Greenhill
- Carolyn Hood
- Christopher Jamail
- Stacy Johnson
- Robin Kochel
- Anne Reysa
- John Thrailkill
- Mary Beth West
OUTGOING MEMBERS – FISCAL YEAR 2023
- Fernando Beltran
- Adrian B. Liddiard
- Mark L. McLeland
- James H. Unger
CURRENT GLADNEY FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS – FISCAL YEAR 2024
- Daniel P. Connally, Chairman
- Daniel P. Connally, Chairman
- Kevin S. McCarthy, Treasurer
- Andrew M. Alexander, Secretary
- John Cochran
- Rachel Firschein
- Colin McBurnette
OUTGOING MEMBER – FISCAL YEAR 2023
- Frank R. Knapp
- Barry C. Twomey
CURRENT LEADERSHIP TEAM
Mark Melson
President & Chief Executive Officer
Diana DeGroot
Vice President of Intercountry Adoption
Jennifer Hart
Director of New Beginnings
Bill Porter
Director of Post Adoption & Client Services
Kristin Porter
Vice President of Clinical Services
Ashley Whiteside
Director of Domestic Adoption
Gongzhan Wu
Vice President & Managing Director Asia
Andrea Connolly
Chief Human Resources Officer
Heidi Bruegel Cox
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Ryan Doty
IT Supervisor
Oakley Jones
Director of Digital Marketing
David Maxwell
Chief Financial Officer
Lisa Schuessler
Vice President, Donor Relations
