As we prepare to celebrate our moms this Mother’s Day weekend, new Barrington non-profit Let It Be Us is getting ready to host its inaugural 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 9th, to support more than 3,000 children in the state of Illinois who are hoping they’ll have adoptive moms one day. Let It Be Us is dedicated to building awareness about ways we can support the care and adoption of children in the foster care system. Inspired by Saturday’s 5K, we decided to introduce you to five children who are currently waiting to be adopted in the state of Illinois.
These young faces represent just five reasons to take part in this weekend’s Let It Be Us 5K. There are 102,000 children and youth in the U.S. foster care system currently in need of adoptive families.
Meet William…
age 13
William is a friendly, polite child who is eager to learn about the world around him. He enjoys spending time outdoors, and likes to take in new environments. He also has a special talent for building things. William is well-behaved, both at home and in school. His teacher says he has many interests, and is eager to talk about his goals for the future. William says he looks forward to belonging in a family.”
Meet Breana…
age 13
“Can I help?” Be prepared to answer “yes!”. Breana loves to pitch in, both at school and around the house. This young lady is outgoing and friendly, and loves to engage others in conversation. She is also an active child who likes spending time outdoors, where she enjoys playing basketball, swimming, playing soccer, and tending to horses. When she is not playing outside, she enjoys participating in 4-H and practicing the piano.
Meet Reggie…
age 11
Reggie is a joyous, enthusiastic young man who loves spending time with people. He has an outgoing, “bigger than life” personality and is constantly playing, learning, laughing, and trying to engage others. Reggie’s former foster parent says “his laugh is one of the happiest sounds ever invented.” Reggie asks lots of questions and responds very well to encouragement. When he is done with his schoolwork, he enjoys playing with toy cars, spending time with both children and adults.
Meet Stetson…
age 12
Stetson is an inquisitive, open-minded young man who is constantly willing to try out new things. He enjoys staying active and would love to have the opportunity to partake in various different sports, such as basketball, soccer and football. He also enjoys playing with remote controlled toys as well as building LEGO pieces. Stetson is caring towards others and is always there to lend a helping hand to someone in need.
Meet Joyanna…
age 10
This outgoing young lady loves spending time with people. Whether she’s singing, dancing, or playing with her siblings, Joyanna likes to be in the middle of the action. Her enthusiasm extends to school as well, where she does well academically and regularly volunteers to answer questions in class. During her quieter moments, Joyanna enjoys playing cards (especially Uno) and video games (especially Wii Sports).
There are many more stories of children in foster care who are currently awaiting adoption. To view lists of available children, visit AdoptUsKids.com.
And if you’d like to learn more about the process of state adoption, come on out to join the first annual Let It Be Us Mother’s Day weekend 5K run/walk. It’s happening at Citizens Park in Barrington from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9th. In addition to having a great time, you’ll get a tee shirt + a medal and you’ll become part of a team that is making a difference in the lives of children who are searching for forever families. Sign up here!
And to connect with our Barrington-based state adoption resource online, visit LetItBeUs.org.
