Category: Harmony Adoptions

Harmony Adoptions Hosts 3rd Annual Chillin’ for Children

Posted by Amelia Daniels – February 19, 2010

 

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Maryville, Tenn.  -  More than 50 adoption advocates will brave the chilly waters of the Little River in Blount County as they bring awareness to the hundreds of children waiting to be adopted in Tennessee.  This is the third year that Harmony Adoptions, one of the state’s leading adoption agencies, is hosting Chillin’ for Children to be held Friday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.

Dressed up in themed costumes, groups of people who are all connected to adoption in some way will jump into freezing cold water while being judged on creativity and style.  Pam Wolf, CEO of Harmony Adoptions, says, “By raising some eyebrows, we’re raising awareness for adoption as we take the plunge together.”  Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham and City of Knoxville Mayor will be on hand.  Mayor Haslam will deliver the pre-plunge address.

As much as Chillin’ for Children raises awareness for the 400+ children currently in state custody, this event also strengthens the partnerships of the agencies that work together to find permanent homes for these foster children.  Harmony Adoptions Community Development Director, Jim Norwood says, “As adoption advocates, we come together as colleagues sharing our success stories and challenges, but after this event, we leave as friends.”  Norwood says that spirit of togetherness makes a difference when a child’s future is in their collective hands. 

Brian Buuck of Oak Ridge is jumping for the first time. “Depending on how bad the frost bite is, it may be my last,” kids Buuck.  Adoption is close to Buuck’s heart, as someone who worked in a foster care program and whose sister adopted her son, Alex.  Buuck is now the COO of Ridgeview Mental Health.  “The discomfort of a few seconds in the ice cold water fails in comparison to what children without a home experience.”

The following agencies are joining Harmony Adoptions for Chillin’ for Children this year:  The Department of Children’s Services (DCS), Camelot Care Centers, Health Connect, Helen Ross McNabb Center, Holston Homes for Children, Omni Visions, Ridgeview Mental Health, Tennessee Alliance for Children and Families and Youth Villages.

The Blount County Rescue Squad will be on hand to assist if needed.  Starbucks in Maryville will provide hot chocolate and coffee and Anderson Rental will supply a generator and heaters.  The community is invited to attend Chillin’ for Children.  For participant information, contact Jim Norwood at jnorwood@harmony.cc.

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MEDIA CONTACT:       
Amelia Daniels                                 
adaniels@ackermannpr.com     
Ackermann PR                                           
(865) 365-5847

85 Riders Will Ride 433 Miles Across Tennessee To Raise Awareness for Adoption

Posted by Amelia Daniels – September 24, 2009

a journey home 09Maryville, Tenn. – More than 400 children in Tennessee are in state custody right now, waiting to be adopted; more than half of those are teenagers.  That is the reason 85 riders, each one connected to adoption in some way, are traveling 433.7 miles across the state of Tennessee over a five-day period to raise awareness of adoption.  In its 5th year, the Adoption Tour is a collaboration of adoption organizations, including The Department of Children Services, Harmony Adoptions, Youth Villages and others.

The Adoption Tour officially begins in Johnson City on Monday, October 5th at 7:00 a.m.  As riders and support crew make their way from Johnson City to Nashville, they will be stopping along the way for celebrations in Alcoa, Cleveland, Chattanooga and Columbia to honor adoptive families, pledge their support to those who have adopted and commit themselves to helping those children who still need a permanent home.  “That’s the theme for this year’s tour – A Journey Home,” says tour director, Jesse O’Hatnick, who rode in 2007.  “These riders know first-hand what adoption truly means and they’re looking for a way to show their commitment and share their stories.”  In all, there are nine celebrations through out the tour route, with the largest crowd expected in Nashville as the cyclists hit mile marker 433.  

The Galewski family of Dyersburg, Tenn. has four riders in this year’s Adoption Tour.  The family’s patriarch, Greg, with two of his sons, James and Paul, and daughter, Jordon will be pedaling together and sharing their inspirational story.  Greg and his wife, Cindy have four biological children and four adopted children.  “I rode for the first time in 2005 to celebrate our fourth adoption.  Each year it gets bigger and bigger,” says Galewski.  “I’m just amazed by the reception we receive in each city.”  The Galewsi’s story is one of many.

The tour itself is physically challenging, with more than half of the ride completed in the first two days.  “In triathlons, you have what’s called a century ride. The bicyclists in the Adoption Tour will complete one of those on Monday and another one on Tuesday,” says O’Hatnick.  “Fortunately, we help our riders train for this in the months leading up to the tour.”

As much as the ride is about the children awaiting their “forever families” and the awareness of adoption in general, the Adoption Tour promotes cooperation between the multiple agencies who work to find homes for displaced children in Tennessee year round.  There are 18 riders from the Department of Children Services and 27 from the various adoption providers.  Pam Wolf, the CEO of Harmony Adoptions says, “Anyone who is considering adoption should know about the incredible resources that are available to them.  It’s not something you will have to do alone – support is available to Tennessee families after the adoption is finalized.” 

With all of the hills and valleys, twists and turns, and seemingly endless days of the Adoption Tour, organizers say the parallel to an adopted child’s journey is intentional.  “When we ride into Nashville’s Bicentennial Park on that last day, we will be thinking about those children who are still waiting, still hoping.  It will be bittersweet,” says rider Zan Schriver, one of the tour’s founders who has ridden every year.

Together with the tour’s sponsors, the Tennessee Department of Children Services in partnership with Harmony Adoptions, Youth Villages, Agape, Catholic Charities, Camelot Care Centers, Inc., Helen Ross McNabb, Cumberland Hall, OMNI Visions, TVA, TN Alliance for Children & Families, and Health Connect of America, the first celebration for the Adoption Tour will begin on the eve of the tour, Sunday, October 4th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City.  The public is invited to attend.

“We have more riders than ever before, and a completely new route.  I think all of this will make for the best Adoption Tour yet,” says O’Hatnick.  “What we need now is the public to know about us and the sacrifice these riders are making in the name of adoption.”  For more information on the Adoption Tour, go to www.adoptiontour.org or follow the riders on Twitter @adoptiontour.  

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Media Contact
Amelia Daniels
(865) 584-0550
adaniels@ackermannpr.com

Harmony Adoptions Selects Ackermann PR as Agency of Record

Posted by Amelia Daniels – September 16, 2009

a journey home 09Knoxville, Tenn. -  In advance of the Adoption Tour, a 433.7 mile bike ride across the state of Tennessee, Harmony Adoptions has hired Ackermann PR for media relations and marketing communications support.  Based in Maryville, Harmony Adoptions is an adoption agency that provides support and education for families.  Their mission is to share life, love and joy through adoption. 

Nearly 400 children in Tennessee are in state custody right now, waiting to be adopted.  Harmony Adoptions sponsors a variety of programs, from those concerning recruitment of adoptive parents to ones supporting families who have already adopted. 

The Adoption Tour, scheduled for the second week in October, is by far the largest event sponsored by Harmony Adoptions.  Eighty-five riders, each one connected to adoption in some way, will ride 433.7  miles, from Johnson City to Nashville to promote adoption awareness. 

In its 5th year, the Adoption Tour is a collaboration of organizations including Harmony Adoptions, Tennessee Department of Children Services, Youth Villages, and many others.  The tour officially begins on Monday, October 5th at 7:00 a.m. in Johnson City.  As riders and support crew make their way from Johnson City to Nashville, they will be stopping along the way for celebrations in Blount County, Cleveland, Chattanooga, and Columbia to honor adoptive families, pledge their support to those who have adopted and commit themselves to helping those children who still need a permanent home.

In all, there are nine celebrations throughout the tour route , with the largest crowd expected in Nashville as the cyclists hit mile marker 433 in Bicentennial Park.  For more information on the Adoption Tour, visit www.adoptiontour.com or follow the riders on Twitter @adoptiontour.

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Media Contact
Amelia Daniels
(865) 584-0550
adaniels@ackermannpr.com

About Ackermann PR
Ackermann PR is a full-service, integrated marketing and communications firm in Knoxville, Tenn., providing strategic public relations, proactive and responsive service, and exceptional value.  Services include branding, media relations and training, public affairs, crisis communications, digital media strategies, graphic design and market research.  For more information, visit our website at www.ackermannpr.com.