EVERY CHILD DESERVES A home
BUILDING ON 40 YEARS: Strengthening Families, Growing Community
THE FLOYD FAMILY: IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Our Adopt America Network family social worker never let us give up. Through the hardest days, she reminded us that love grows slowly, and that every small step forward mattered.” - Shannon Floyd
Adoption doesn’t always start with a picture-perfect moment. Sometimes, it begins with brokenness, uncertainty, and a lot of prayer. For us, it started in Ocala, Florida, with three incredible boys: Irvin, who is now 12, I’Zarion, now 11, and Julius, now 9.
When the boys first came home, it was hard. Really hard. There were tears; theirs and ours. There were
moments of silence, frustration, and fear. We didn’t always feel like a family. Some days, it felt like we were strangers trying to figure out how to belong to one another. The truth is, we questioned our decision more than once. But even in the hardest moments, our hearts kept urging us to keep going.
We showed up every day with as much love, grace, and patience as we could muster. We learned to celebrate the small victories; a shared laugh, a bedtime hug, a moment of trust. We discovered that healing doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen. Slowly, the walls began to fall. Little by little, love found its way in.
Today, our home is filled with joy, noise, and a kind of love that only comes from walking through something hard together. Our boys light up our world; with their wild imaginations, goofy jokes, endless energy, and kind hearts. They’ve turned our living room into a video game command center, our front yard into a soccer field, and our family into something stronger and more beautiful than we ever imagined.
We didn’t just adopt children. We became a family.
Adoption is not about rescuing, it’s about becoming. Becoming safe places. Becoming steady hearts. Becoming home. We always said we wanted to give our kids the chance to grow up safe, loved, and free to become the people God created them to be. Now, every day, we get to watch that promise unfold in the most extraordinary ways.
To all the hearts behind Adopt America Network, thank you. You are the reason three brave boys now fall asleep knowing they are loved, protected, and truly home. You didn’t just help us adopt. You helped build a forever family.
PLAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER
Adopt America Network’s Play Together, Stay Together initiative is making a big impact by giving adoptive families joyful, low-stress opportunities to bond. Nearly 60 caregivers, children, and staff recently spent a day together at the Toledo Zoo — a place chosen not just for fun, but for connection.
“We chose the zoo because it’s a very family-friendly Toledo attraction to inspire learning, exploration, and to create good memories for the family to experience,” said Wendy Spoerl, President at Adopt America Network. “It can also be very expensive for a family with multiple children, especially without a membership.”
By covering admission, meals, and transportation, families were able to focus on what mattered most: being together. Caregivers built stronger connections with their children, while families formed new friendships with one another. Staff also deepened their understanding of each family’s unique needs — relationships that often grow into broader support through Adopt America’s OAKS program.
“These events are about more than just having fun,” Spoerl shared. “Bonding doesn’t always happen in structured moments — sometimes it’s in a joke, a shared snack, or a surprising animal encounter. Those are the moments that help forever families truly stay together.”
To learn more about Play Together, Stay Together, or to join an upcoming event, email adoption@adoptamericanetwork.org.
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
662 925
FAMILIES SERVED
NEW CHILDREN SERVED
39 OAKS PROGRAM EVENTS FOR FAMILIES, PARENTS, TEENS, AND CHILDREN
HOME, SCHOOL, AND VIRTUAL SUPPORT VISITS PROVIDED TO FAMILIES BY AAN STAFF
38
104
42% CHILDREN HAVE SIBLINGS 37% CHILDREN PLACED ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN 84% CHILDREN HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS
1,051
876 REQUESTS FOR HOME STUDY SERVICES
COMPLETED HOME STUDIES
2,254 WAITING CHILDREN REFFERED TO WAITING FAMILIES
FINANCIAL RESULTS
BOARD MEMBERS
Mike Hanson, Chair
Amy Tyson,ViceChair
Brendan Karchner, Treasurer
Rebecca Nighbert, Secretary
Dan Silvers, PastChair
Wendy Spoerl, AANPresident
Brooke Budion
Casey Clark
Tammy Corral
Brandon Daniels
Julia D’Arcangelo
2024 REVENUE: $4,149,243
Annual Giving & Grants: $310,290
Other: $79,080 Programs:
Child-Focused Recruitment Grants: $1,099,555
Fundraising: $129,613
State Contracts: $2,530,705
2024 NET ENDING ASSETS: $3,065,092
ADVISORY BOARD
Marlen Kemmet
Ben Klopping
Addie Nelson
Kelly Oliver
Barbara Riggs
Phillip Rudolph, Jr.
Sarah Stephens
Bill Windnagel
Al Bianco
David Bruhl
Nick Cherry
Tony Geftos
Sharon Gillespie
Mike Hart
Shannon Irmen
Mark Karchner
Mark Knierim
Beverly Landy
Bill Life
Barbara Machin
Letitia Marth
Jani Miller
Tonya Rider
Kenneth Wise
Wendy Sowers, Chair
Wendy Spoerl, AANPresident
Sharon Gillespie
Mike Hanson
Dan Silvers
November 1, 2025
Featuring awardee & guest speaker: Bishop W.C. Martin & Mrs. Donna Martin
whosestoryofadoptioninspiredthemovie “SoundofHope:theStoryofPossumTrot”
