This year, the Riverfront Times has teamed up with our Junior Board to create Cocktails for a Cause to benefit children in foster care.  Join friends of the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition for an evening of networking, enjoying friends, and meeting new ones!  $10 Per Ticket: Covers complimentary drinks.  All proceeds benefit the Coalition. 

  

Thousands of children remain in foster care wishing for that BIG DREAM -- a forever family.  You may not have room in your home, but you can still help a child in foster care by granting his or her holiday wish of a baseball glove, a first bicycle with helmet, or even a trip to the Science Center. Wishes range from just $35 to $200.

 

Every hanging Wish-Upon-a-Star is crafted in India of sand-cast aluminum, and individually hand engraved and polished to a high shine. For just $10 (plus $2 shipping), they make a perfect gift for friends, co-workers, family, and teachers!  This year, buy two ornaments and get a third one FREE!

 

We have something new and exciting we'd like to share with you!  It’s the new Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition toolbar – once added to your internet browser, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to the Coalition – at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!).  The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition.  And we all know, every penny counts!

Be a Birthday Buddy!  As a Birthday Buddy, you ask your birthday guests to bring a birthday gift for a foster child in lieu of a gift for you.  Or you can simply donate some of the birthday gifts you receive to the Birthday Buddy program. 

 

Foster parents are only reimbursed for about half of what they need to raise foster children, and a special birthday celebration for their foster children is sometimes financially out of reach.  Your donations to the Birthday Buddy program help ensure that foster kids have happy birthdays.  For more information, visit www.foster-adopt.org/birthdaybuddy or contact Debbie Schoemehl at 314.223.5723.

 

Our Foster Friends volunteers support several Coalition events each year, playing games and hosting fun activities for foster/adoptive children.  Foster Friends also receive exclusive opportunities to support foster children waiting to be adopted.  To find out more, visit www.foster-adopt.org/fosterfriends.

The Coalition's KidStore stocks new and gently used clothing exclusively for foster and adoptive families.  The KidStore currently needs:

DECEMBER Cocktails for a Cause Wednesday, December 9, 2009 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Over/Under Bar

APRIL Old Bags Tuesday, April 27, 2010 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Living World - St. Louis Zoo