The Story of Mallow Run Winery, Courageous Hearts Adoptions, and ADA
We’re proud to be a part of the automatic door industry, and we’re very proud of the work we do and the connections we make with our clients. But, outside of the office, we’re also proud to be an active member of our community. Each year, ADA participates in events and fundraisers that are near and dear to our hearts. One of which is Mallow Run Winery’s annual Wine at the Line run/walk, coming up on September 23rd.
For the second year in a row, ADA will act as Title Sponsor for the event, because for the second year in a row, proceeds will go to Courageous Hearts Adoptions. We’re incredibly honored to be a part of this special event at such an amazing winery, which benefits a cause that’s so important to us and to Mallow Run.
The Origins of Wine at the Line
Husband and wife Bill and Laura Richardson, along with Bill’s father John, started Mallow Run Winery almost 18 years ago. From the beginning, they wanted to give back to the community that had given them so much. Thus, Wine at the Line was born! The 5k-focused fundraiser was Laura’s brainchild, and she decided to “run” with the idea 13 years ago—despite Bill’s initial skepticism (he thought she was crazy. Running and wine certainly isn’t a typical pairing). The event was a hit and is now a staple at the winery, which the community looks forward to every year.
Wine at the Line starts with a 5 mile run and a 5k run/walk. Whether you’re out for the thrill of the race or a leisurely stroll, you can take things at your own pace. After the run/walk, there’s a party waiting for participants, with food trucks, wine tastings, and live music. This beloved community event draws upwards of 3,000 people each year, and—most importantly—it raises money for wonderful causes.
Mallow Run and Courageous Hearts Adoptions
In years past, Mallow Run would choose a different charity to donate each event’s proceeds to. But for the last couple of years, they’ve decided to pick the same charity—Courageous Hearts Adoptions—as this organization is so close to Mallow Run’s hearts and has impacted so many people they know.
Bill and Laura are passionate about adoption, having adopted two children of their own, Emma (15) and Wesely (10). They enjoy regular contact and visits with both kids’ birth parents, and have even appeared in a documentary for PBS about adoption. And not only Bill and Laura, but Mallow Run employees and several others connected with the winery have gone or are currently going through the adoption process.
“There really are no words that capture the emotional experience and love that adoptive families and birth families share. It is an unexplainable, unimaginable experience of gratitude, faith, trust, fear, hope, love and joy!”
—Bill and Laura Richardson
ADA and Courageous Hearts Adoptions
The owners of ADA, Greg and Julie Menefee, are also passionate about adoption. So much so that, in 2014, they founded Courageous Hearts Adoptions, along with their daughter-in-law, Jenna, and Jenna’s sister, Sara. Greg and Julie have two adopted grandchildren who give them so much joy. But they also learned firsthand how stressful and expensive the adoption process can be. Thus, they started Courageous Hearts to support both birth parents and potential adoptive parents, making adoption more accessible and bringing that same joy to deserving families of all kinds.
Why Adoption?
We’ve talked a lot about how adoption has impacted the people at ADA and Mallow Run. But it also impacts birth parents, adoptive parents, and the roughly 400,000 kids currently in foster care. Bill and Laura said it best when they explained, “Birth parents that move forward with an adoptive plan for their children are, in our opinion, some of our greatest heroes. They are trusting strangers to raise their children. And they’re giving the greatest privilege of parenthood to those who may never have that opportunity.”
So, mark your calendars for the 13th annual Wine at the Line on Saturday, September 23rd! We’ll get some exercise, drink some wine, have a ton of fun, and support a truly noble cause.
“I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.”
–Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist