November is National Adoption Month, which is a time to celebrate all the families who have been brought together through adoption. It’s also a time to recognize the courage of everyone involved in this life-changing journey. Here at ADA, adoption holds a particularly special place in our hearts because our owners, Greg and Julie Menefee, have two granddaughters through adoption—so this November, we’re working hard to make adoption dreams a reality for more families.
Why Adoption
There are countless reasons to adopt a child. In the United States alone, there are more than 400,000 children in foster care waiting for their forever homes. Adoption provides kids with a safe and stable household environment, which is hugely beneficial throughout a child’s development. Adopted children also tend to have opportunities they may not have had otherwise, like going to college, and they even tend to perform better in school than children in the general population. In fact, more than 90% of people who have been adopted feel positively about the experience.
Families may decide to adopt for a number of reasons—some may have tried to conceive but have struggled with infertility, or might have pre-existing conditions that make pregnancy ill-advised, or might not want to pass down any genetic disorders to children. Some might be same-sex couples who are ready to grow their families, while others might want to start a family as a single parent. Others still may simply want to give a child a loving home when they may not otherwise have one. All of these reasons and more make adopting a child a huge source of joy and excitement for potential parents.
Adoption also helps support the birth mother and father, since raising a child may not always be feasible or desired. Making the decision to put a child up for adoption can be incredibly difficult for the birth parent(s), so knowing that their child has a supportive, loving home can relieve the emotional stress of the decision. Birth mothers also receive financial support throughout the adoption process, which can relieve the monetary burden of being pregnant and giving birth. And adoption doesn’t always mean that the child will never have contact with their birth parent(s)—in fact, one of the most common types of adoption is open adoption, where the birth parent(s) has an ongoing relationship with their child and their adoptive parents.
Adopting With Courageous Hearts
There are many incredible adoption organizations out there, including Courageous Hearts Adoptions, which was founded in 2020 by the ADA family (owners Greg and Julie Menefee, their former daughter-in-law Jenna, and Jenna’s sister Sara). The Menefees’ son Ben and Jenna have two daughters through adoption and understand firsthand how the loving and selfless decisions made by birth mothers brings an immense joy to the lives of their child and their child’s future adoptive family.
Through their own adoption process, the ADA family also observed the significant financial stress involved in domestic adoptions, so they started Courageous Hearts to both make the process more accessible and approachable for deserving families and to provide for the emotional and financial needs of birth parents.
Since 2020, Courageous Hearts has facilitated 63 successful placements with a very small team, supporting 19 families through their adoptions in 2024 alone. But what really sets them apart as an adoption agency is their personalized, compassionate approach. Courageous Hearts walks alongside both birth parents and adoptive families throughout their entire journey, providing the support and resources they need during one of their most significant life decisions.
Donate
While adopting a child is one of life’s greatest and most rewarding decisions, it can also be a pricey one. The average cost of domestic adoption ranges from $48,000 to $60,000, which can create insurmountable barriers for many loving families who are ready and able to provide stable, nurturing homes for children.
This year, Greg and Julie have committed to matching gifts made to Courageous Hearts Adoptions up to $25,000. With your help, this could result in $50,000+ in support to families who are ready to adopt in 2026, but are not able to overcome the financial barriers.
Your gift helps provide financial relief to future adoptive families, ensuring that love—not financial cost—determines who can welcome a child home. Every donation, whether $50 or $500, covers essential expenses like birth parent support, legal fees, and travel costs. With your support, Courageous Hearts can help more deserving families complete their adoption journeys.
To make your tax-deductible donation, visit the Courageous Hearts website today.
Thank you for helping make adoption dreams come true this National Adoption Month!