What an amazing year of firsts this has been for Project 2713! As we approach the end of our first year, we feel like this is the ideal time to reflect on what we've been working toward and what we've got planned for 2018.

Family supporters during our Blaze event

Before we get into the goals we have for the coming year, let's take a look at the past year in review. Our biggest focus as an up and coming organization has been spreading the word about our mission in the community. Over the summer we hosted some wonderful fundraisers with local businesses, such as our Blaze Pizza and Curly's Frozen Custard events and more recently Wassail Weekend at The Bearded Monk. In an effort to continue raising awareness, we threw a big Backyard Bash at a South Lakes Park in Denton, TX. We had loads of games, local food, artisan vendors and the best water balloon fight ever played! **link to our story for each event if applicable**

Through these fundraisers we were able to help our first grant family, the Murphy's, with a financial grant in November. They came to us early in the year in the midst of adopting two sweet girls from within their family. If you haven't yet, please take the time to read their story, it is truly inspiring. The grant awarded the Murphy’s covered 100% of their final attorney fees. Project 2713 is thankful to have been able to help a family in need during their adoption journey.

The Murphy's Adoption Story

For a new non-profit, we have made leaps and bounds reaching out to the surrounding communities in order to raise money to aid our mission of supporting local and intra-family adoptions. We have been blessed with donations, recognition, and interested supporters. We are amazed at how God has used us this year! And now as 2017 draws to a close, we begin to prepare for a new year full of growth and community for our organization.

One of the most repeated things we've heard throughout discussions during events is that it's hard to know where to start looking for information on adopting. It can be tough to find resources, especially if a prospective adoptive parent doesn't even know the right terms to Google. Even though you can search the internet and find plenty of relevant websites, some of the most informative resources are sometimes hidden in the great wide web, using language that might be hard to understand and pages difficult to navigate.

In 2018, Project 2713's website will become a means to easily locate information regarding adoption. Not sure how to begin the adoption process? Looking for a credible adoption lawyer? Want to get in touch with other families who have adopted? Our ultimate goal is to be able to answer any question, and to connect people with what they need. We are already cultivating relationships with local agencies, law offices and families who will be ready to help with whatever is needed. Our organization has garnered support within the local community through our fundraisers and we will be joining together with our new volunteers in the coming year to continue and grow our connections and our ability to aid families. Community is important to us and vital to our organization. We at Project 2713 want to connect families with each other for support, a helping hand, and a source of love understanding. Project 2713 wants to be at the center of local and intra-family adoption.

Father and daughter playing Jenga at Backyard Bash

We seek to change the perception people have surrounding adoption. There are many opinions about the topic – some good and some bad. Each adoption is unique, as are the experiences that come with it. As every parent knows, raising a child is not always easy. It can be tough work at times, but ask most mothers and fathers and they will tell you that they wouldn’t trade their children for the world. They choose to love each day regardless of the situations they encounter. That is what adoption can give a family. There may be challenges and hard times, but there are also endless moments that can only be considered gifts for a child who has been adopted. Ultimately, the lives of everyone involved are changed. Love is given and received. Shouldn’t that be the main focus of adoption? Project 2713 believes in making this a more common representation of adoption as we proceed in our mission.

This brief post is not nearly everything we have planned for 2018! Our website will soon feature new opportunities to share your own adoption story, helpful infographics highlighting the steps of the adoption process, and more links to wonderful resources.

If you found this post inspiring, you can always help! Make a New Year's resolution to make a difference. There are many ways to help and most take less than 5 minutes of your time.

Fundraise — fundraising looks different now through all our social media outlets. It’s a great way to spread the word about our cause while also helping to raise funds for families in need. Do you have a loved one whose life was changed by adoption? Create a page in their honor and help us help other families just like them.
Donate — Your donation is tax deductible through our 501(c)3 organization. You can choose to sign up as a monthly donor for as little as $5 a month or donate now!
Share — Have you or do you know someone who's been adopted? Share your adoption story with us! We will share your story on our website and create a fundraising page in honor of your story. From there, friends and family will be able to see the positive impact adoption has made in your life and be able to donate to make the same impact for future families of Project 2713.

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