Family is a true gift to some and a source of struggle for others. Starting or growing a family through adoption can be time-consuming, emotionally taxing and financially unfeasible. We all know the impact that adoption can make in the life of a child and in the life of the family who welcomes in someone new.
Kristie Radford and Jonathan Peavey have both been personally impacted by adoption and now serve on the board of Gift of Adoption’s South Carolina chapter to assist in providing this gift to other families. Peavey was adopted from South Korea when he was 6 years old. After his biological father passed away, his mother was unable to care for him and his three other siblings. He was adopted by Michael and Edna Peavey of Wilson, North Carolina, through the Holt Agency in 1983. Peavey remembers the culture shock of moving to a new country and reflected that as an adult, he recognizes the opportunities that he was given through his adoption.
Peavey had a great childhood with his adoptive parents and said that he knows how blessed he is to have been adopted by them. When he was 24 and a senior at The Citadel, he received a letter from his biological siblings and took it to be translated. Before this point, he was unaware that he had any siblings. Peavey, accompanied by 27 other adoptees from South Korea, was given the chance to go on a Holt Motherland Tour to meet his birth family.
It was there that he met members of his birth family and learned he was an uncle. Out of the 27 participants on the trip, only two had records and the chance to meet their birth families. When he returned to the U.S., Peavey was asked to come and speak about his adoption journey. In February 2020, he learned about the Gift of Adoption organization.
Radford and her husband were beginning to start their family and adopted their first child from California in 2005. They were fortunate enough to adopt another child in 2007. Their children are now 19 and 16 years old.
“I felt fortunate that we had the finances to be able to start that process, but I definitely had a heart for those who couldn’t adopt because of the financial responsibility,” said Radford. There are many children waiting for families and many families that are ready to adopt but can’t afford it. The process alone averages between $30,000 to $40,000.
As a result of their adoption experiences, Radford and Peavey felt compassion for the mission of Gift of Adoption. The South Carolina chapter was started in January 2022 and now has eight board members. They raise funds to provide adoption assistance grants for qualified families. The average grant is $5,000 and often pushes families over the finish line for the financial costs. All money raised goes directly to local families through grants. Private investing pays for the operating costs so that every dime raised goes directly to grant recipients. The grant selection committee meets monthly to review applications and make selections.
“We work to raise funds so we can say yes to all qualified families,” added Radford. Families are eligible to apply and receive the grant up to three times. Special situations do take precedence and the committee aims to keep siblings together, have children be adopted before they age out of the system and give priority to children with special needs. There are no parameters on religion or race and the committees have selected and assisted a plethora of public servants.
If you are looking for ways to support this worthy organization, they will be holding their annual gala event in November at The Citadel Beach Club on Isle of Palms. Learn more about the organization while advocating for local families looking to adopt and make an impact in a child’s life. They are also seeking like-minded individuals to potentially join their board. The gift of family is one that is mutually beneficial and lasts a lifetime. What a lovely gift to give!
For more information, or if you are interested in applying for a grant, visit their website giftofadoption.org/southcarolina/ to fill out an application.
By Cari Lawson
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