Neighbor News
Unique approach helps Georgia children find adoptive families
Nonprofit based in Cobb County focuses on state's 400 children waiting for adoption
Every child deserves a place to belong… including the 11,000+ Georgia children in foster care. Of those, 400 children are legally eligible for adoption… but who will help them? Georgia Kids Belong.
To give children an opportunity to share their stories, hopes and dreams, the Cobb County-based nonprofit Georgia Kids Belong (GKB) captures video stories of kids in foster care who are available for adoption. GKB has a 68% adoption rate among the 350+ kids filmed, as their stories post on the GKB website, social media, partner social sites and national websites like AdoptUSkids.org, so interested families can inquire. Additionally, ongoing advocacy is a powerful tool used by GKB.
“The most recent GKB video event, called the I Belong Project, just wrapped up at the Savannah Bananas' home stadium in Savannah and was hosted by their nonprofit, Bananas Foster,” Rebecca Radicchi, Georgia State Director, stated.
Find out what's happening in Mariettafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Filmed at Grayson Stadium, home of the Savannah Bananas, the statewide event featured:
- 20 children ages 7-16 from throughout Georgia filmed
- Several sibling sets
- A backstage tour of the stadium, breakfast and lunch
- Smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a partner of Banana Ball
- Savannah Banana jerseys as gifts to the children
- Children receiving I Belong Bags: toys, stuffed animals, pencil pouches and hygiene kits
- Crafts and activities, experience with two therapy dogs
- Visual media produced by 4 videographers, plus 3 photographers
The I Belong Project experiences have also been hosted at the Atlanta Falcons training facility (with the team), Truist Park in association with the Braves Foundation, the Georgia Aquarium and other exciting venues.
Find out what's happening in Mariettafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
All children are in the care of the state and matched by the Georgia Department of Human Services, State Adoption Exchange Unit.
GKB also provides a Foster Friendly App to more than 3,200 Georgia foster families and certifies Foster Friendly Cities, Businesses and Faith communities. For more information on how to help adoptive children and families, email Rebecca Radicchi: rradicchi@gakidsbelong.org
