2022
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
- 2022 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, Laura Wheat, 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
Colorado
- Colorado Springs
Florida
- Brandon
New York
- New York
North Carolina
- Greenville
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City
States Where Gladney Is Licensed
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Florida
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
States Where Gladney Staff Live
- Texas
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
- Utah
Countries Where Gladney Currently Works In International Adoption And/Or Provides Humanitarian Aid Support
- China
- Colombia
- Ethiopia (humanitarian aid support only)
- Taiwan
Service Awards Luncheon
Service Awards
5-Year
Haleigh Shaeffer, Lead Caseworker, Birth Parent Services
Jacqueline Teixeira, Program Assistant, Adoption from Foster Care
10-Year
15-Year
25-Year
Gongzhan Wu, Vice President and Managing Director – Asia Adoption Programs
30-Year
Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Ruby Lee PiesterAward Winner
Victoria Azocar
Program Assistant, Adoption from Foster Care
Employee of
the Year
Breanne Galey
Lead Caseworker, Birth Parent Services
Employee of the
Year Runner-Up
Kara Leon
Caseworker, Adoption from Foster Care
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 211 children
Children Served Through Our Waiting Child Programs
- 35 children adopted from state foster care
- 29 children available for adoption in Taiwan assessed and advocated for through our Superkids Program
- 21 children adopted from international orphanages and foster homes*
- 18 from Taiwan
- 3 from Colombia
- 12 teen girls in state foster care served in the Gladney Home Program
- 7 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
- 5 children adopted through private adoptions (older children and medically fragile infants)
1,157
expectant mothers inquired about adoption services
Expectant Mothers Chose to Be Admitted to Gladney’s Adoption Program
- 28 average age of expectant mother clients
- 44% of expectant mother clients have other children
We provided guidance and resources through 6,562 post adoption connections with 934 adoptive parents, 840 birth parents, 342 adult adoptees
We offered hope and healing through 64 counseling sessions with 6 gladney home residents and 1 child adopted from Foster care
9,000+ teenagers, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, social workers, and other professionals across the U.S. were provided with adoption education through:
572 outreach connections
AdoptED reached 404 high schools through our virtual classroom & in-person presentations
29 Gladney University trainings
342 volunteers donated 14,157 hours of service,
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 2022
(including The 2021 Gladney Cup)
In 2022, we were excited to celebrate together and support Gladney’s mission through 5 special events:
Dining and Dancing with Daddy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
128 DADS & 156 DAUGHTERS
Gladney Night at Six Flags in Arlington, Texas
3,000 GUESTS
135th Raise a Glass in Fort Worth, Texas
150 GUESTS
#TeamGladney Charity Runners at the TCS New York City Marathon in New York, New York
10 RUNNERS
Adoption Rocks Concert & Dinner with Ryan Bingham in Fort Worth, Texas
325 GUESTS
Gladney Adoption Day 2022
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
- Laura L. Wheat, Chairman
- Mark L. McLeland, Past Chairman
- Roger L. Metz, Chairman-Elect
- Mark Melson, President
- Stephanie Perdue, Secretary
- James H. Unger, Treasurer
- Fernando Beltran
- Matthew Bungo
- John Covington
- Mary Beth Dudley
- Eliza Gaines
- Duke Greenhill
- Carolyn Hood
- Stacy Johnson
- Robin Kochel
- Adrian B. Liddiard
- Anne Reysa
- John Thrailkill
- Jeremy Tilley
- James Tyler
OUTGOING MEMBERS – FISCAL YEAR 2022
- Alfred C. Dezzi
- Kenneth H. Heitner
- Kathleen M. Marsal
- Stacey J. Reynolds
CURRENT GLADNEY FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS – FISCAL YEAR 2023
- Stephen Maresco, Chairman
- Frank R. Knapp, Past Chairman
- Daniel P. Connally, Secretary
- Andrew M. Alexander
- Kevin S. McCarthy
- Colin McBurnette
- Barry C. Twomey
OUTGOING MEMBER – FISCAL YEAR 2022
- Cullen L. Thomason
Executive Team
Mark Melson
President & Chief Executive Officer
Andrea Connolly
Chief Human Resources Officer
Ellen Wilson
Interim Chief Financial Officer
Heidi Bruegel Cox
Chief Strategy Officer & General Counsel
Lisa Schuessler
Chief Development Officer
