Timberwolves Take Foster Youth Shopping – December 19, 2011
The Minnesota Timberwolves surprised 13 youth awaiting adoption with a shopping trip to Target on December 19. Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Wayne Ellington, Darko Milicic, Brad Miller, Nikola Pekovic, Anthony Tolliver, Martell Webster and Derrick Williams accompanied the children, spending $500 on clothing,electronics,school supplies and toys. This is the seventh annual event thatis sponsored by the Timberwolves' FastBreakFoundation and coordinated by Minnesota Adoption Resource Network and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. To view live coverage of the event, click here.

MARN Honors Youth at Annual Gala
Yves Spies joined his adoptive family last year, just days before his 18th birthday. Now 19, Yves is preparing for college and would not have been able to embark on the college application process without the help of his family. At the recent Minnesota Adoption Resource Network (MARN) annual Gala, Yves told the audience, "I now have a dad for football tossing, a mom who will stay up late at night and listen to me talk about girls, and younger siblings who look up to me. I would not have been adopted without the recruitment efforts of MARN."

The annual MARN Gala took place on December 1, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency hotel and featured youth sharing their need for families in a program emceed by Rena Sarigianopoulos of KARE 11. The evening also included a wine tasting event, silent auction and Giving Tree where guests helped purchase items such as a bike, electronics or clothing for Minnesota foster children and youth. To view photos of the Gala, visit MARN’s Facebook.

MARN is especially grateful to the Gala sponsors that included Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. for a generous contribution. MARN would also like to thank the Hyatt Regency-Minneapolis, PSAV Presentation Services, Cities 97, WCCO News Radio and Michele Tafoya, Comcast, It's Just Lunch Dating Service, Salina J. Photogprahy, Stillwater Balloons, Water Park of America, Erik's Bike Shop, Minnesota Vikings, Open Table Restaurants, Guthrie Theater, Ordway Theater, ReVamp SalonSpa, Urban Eatery and Skylark Dry Cleaning.

14th Annual Circus of the Heart Kicks off National Adoption Month
with Celebration and Family Recruitment
To view live news coverage from KSTP, Channel 5, click here

MARN Moves to Nicollet Mall
After nine years at the Loring Park Office Building, Minnesota Adoption Resource Network has relocated to 1221 Nicollet Mall, Suite #501 in Minneapolis. The move was precipitated by the Loring Park building being converted into apartments. This historic move is the third for MARN which was housed in a founder’s basement before relocating to Richfield and then moving to Loring Park. The new site is adjacent to Westminster Presbyterian Church. Telephone numbers, email addresses and fax numbers will remain the same for MARN.

Foster Youth Attends Sanneh Soccer Camp
When U.S. World Cup Soccer star, Tony Sanneh donated a full week of soccer camp at a MARN gala silent auction, MARN board member Sara Reisdorf held the winning bid, stipulating it go to a Minnesota youth awaiting adoption.

This past June, 15-year-old Yosef was selected to attend soccer camp held at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota where Sanneh has been organizing soccer camps for boys and girls, ages 10 to 19 since 2009. Before camp, Yosef was excited to begin playing soccer both day and night and looked forward to improving his skills.

After his return from the camp, foster mother, Dena Nix said Yosef has been inspired to work harder on his academics, after hearing the coaches tell him that the combination of academics and athleticism is what colleges are looking for when granting scholarships. Nix remarks, "He had a summer reading project for school, it was a 1500 page classic, Les Miserables and shortly after coming home from camp he diligently read the book and wrote in his journal. I really feel the camp helped motivate him to work hard on the assignment." Yosef was impressed with the level of play that he saw and was inspired by the coaches to join a club and recently tried out for the Minneapolis United Soccer Club. "At my tryouts, Tony (Sanneh) showed up and picked me out of the crowd of players. I really felt honored. And being at camp also got me thinking a lot more about college," said Yosef.

For more information about The Sanneh Foundation, click here.

MN ADOPT Launches HELP Line for Adoptive Parents
MN ADOPT's Help Line for Adoptive Families – offers FREE short term therapeutic services to qualifying families in crisis including families who have adopted internationally, domestically or waiting children. 1-855-670-HELP, 612-746-5137, Monday-Friday – 9 am to 5 pm.

PLEDGE ZERO Campaign with Communities of Faith
The Haitian earthquake has moved communities of faith to adopt orphans. Please remember the need for families is great for children in “our own Minnesota backyards.”

MARN helps churches, synagogues and mosques reduce the number of Minnesota children waiting for families. Learn about adoption through regular postings of profiles and photos of waiting children, sermons, information for bulletins and other means of recruitment.