NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 7066

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 7066
PALATINE, IL
P&DC
2049 Ridge Avenue | Evanston, IL 60201
847.475.5800 | www.cradle.org
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Julianne S. Tye, President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Margarita E. Kellen, Chair
Anna Marie Hajek, Vice Chair
Stephen S. Cole, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer
Pamela F. Amos
Richard C. Burnstine, M.D.
Margaret A. Cartier
Paula M. and John F. Dix, Jr.
John L. Fairfield
Raymond Grady
DeVerille A. Huston
Catherine C. Klettke
Margaret K. and David E. Mason
Judith A. Muhlberg
Priscilla A. Newman
Mary T. and Michael E. Phenner
Corrine V. Reichert
Kevin J. Rochford
Lawrence Rubly
Thomas F. Ryan
Robert E. Sargent
Ardythe E. and Gale E. Sayers
Barbara Sereda
William R. Stasek
Virginia L. Uhlenhop
Marianne L. Woodward
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Margaret M. Adams
W. Randolph Adams, Jr.
Harold S. Bott, Jr.
Joan and Stanley M. Freehling
Jane and Allan Gunn
Rose Ann and Addison C. Hoof
Nancy M. and Charles F. Hovey, Jr.
Suzanne S. Meyer
Aidan I. Mullett
Jacqueline L. Schoellhorn
Mary H. and Bernard F. Sergesketter
Paul B. Uhlenhop
FALL 2007
09/15
VAE SPEAKERS SEMINAR
The Cradle, Evanston
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
9/29
NAVIGATING EARLY
INTERVENTION AND SPECIAL
EDUCATION SERVICES
Adoptive Parent Workshop*
DePaul University, Naperville
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
09/29
THE CRADLE BALL
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
6:30 – 11:00 p.m.
8 The Cradle Newsletter
CRADLE l Calendar
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
10/13
AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL
Oakton Community College,
Des Plaines
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
10/16
AIN’T MISBEHAVING
– THE DIFFICULT JOB OF
DISCIPLINE
Adoptive Parent Workshop*
The Cradle, Evanston
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Sisters Zoila & Thi Nga have beautiful smiles!
OPEN ADOPTION
RELATIONSHIPS
AND HOW THEY EVOLVE
Adoptive Parent Workshop*
The Cradle, Evanston
* Fees: $20 per person per workshop,
$10 for second family member, nonrefundable. Register online at www.
cradle.org/ed_workshops.html or by
calling 847.733.3233.
11/03
SUMMER | 2007
A STORY OF OPENNESS
CRADLE Events
THE CRADLE BALL
Creating Families, Changing Lives
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
Lupe's daughters Alexia and Aaliyah with Julie and Anthony Kaczmarek
L
upe Maravilla is a lovely young
woman with two daughters,
five-year-old Aaliyah and threeyear-old Alexia, a great new job at
the Chicago Board of Trade, and
a wonderful fiancé, Rudy, who has
three children of his own. She is
also a Cradle birthmom who placed
her son Anthony with Sharon and
Greg Kaczmarek a little less than
four years ago. At the time, she
was a frightened and overwhelmed
nineteen-year-old, trying to care
for her toddler daughter and infant
son within an abusive relationship. Fearing for her life, Lupe
took Aaliyah and Anthony and fled
from the home they shared with
her boyfriend. They ended up in a
shelter, exhausted, alone and with
no money.
While watching TV one weekend at
the shelter, Lupe saw an ad for The
Cradle and decided to call. Cradle
birthparent counselor Arletta Diggs
arranged to meet Lupe first thing
Monday morning at a McDonald’s
to talk about her options. When
Arletta first saw the scared, bruised
young woman, her heart went out
to Lupe. A strong bond formed
between the two. “Arletta went
beyond being my counselor,” Lupe
said. “She was always so supportive
and inspired me to go on.” That
day they also took Anthony to The
Cradle Nursery, where he was lovingly welcomed.
Lupe is grateful to Arletta for informing her about her rights and educating her about open adoption.
Together, they reviewed profiles of
waiting families and Lupe selected
a couple that ultimately decided
to withdraw from the domestic
program. Her next choice was the
Kaczmareks, whom she met and
instantly liked. She was glad that
(Continued on page 2)
Join us for a splendid evening celebrating
The Cradle and families. Our 13th annual
black-tie event will feature a cocktail and
hors d’oeuvres reception beginning at 6:00
p.m., dinner, dancing, auctions, a raffle and
more. Tickets are $300 and can be purchased online at www.cradle.org (click on
Cradle Foundation and Events).
For more information about the Ball,
contact Bonnie Krasny, Events Manager, at
847.733.3234 or [email protected].
AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Oakton Community College,
Des Plaines
Cradle Connections sponsors this fun fall
event for families with children from China,
Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Taiwan.
Participants enjoy traditional entertainment,
cultural games, crafts, and an Asian buffet.
For more information, contact Maureen
Kelly at 847.733.3230 or [email protected].
CONGRATULATIONS!
Michael and Heather Cichon, and big
brother Adam, took baby Nathan home
in April.
The Cradle's m
ission is to benefit
ting choices.
children... by providing education, guidance and life-long support on paren
ies.
Our commitment is to ser
ve as a partner in creating and sustaining nurturing famil
A STORY OF OPENNESS,
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
from page 1
they had two other children, also Cradle babies, who would
be older siblings to Anthony. And while placing her son was
Dear Friends,
the hardest decision she had ever made, Lupe felt secure that
Happy summer! I hope you are
enjoying the longer days with lots of
sunshine and outdoor activities. This
time of year both warms the body
and lifts the spirit. It is a time when
you might glimpse a Cradle nurse
taking one of our young charges out
for a stroll in the neighborhood. We
have witnessed with gratitude the passing of many seasons
at The Cradle and the “budding” of many new families.
Anthony would be okay. He went home with Sharon and Greg
In this season of growth and renewal, we would like to
acknowledge all of the individuals who have guided The
Cradle and The Cradle Foundation over the years through
their service on our boards. These dedicated volunteers
share a passionate commitment to our mission, lending
their time, talents and support to help ensure The Cradle’s
continuing vitality. Some board members have served for
decades, while others have only recently joined our leadership. Pictured below are our newest directors. We welcome them and thank them, along with each of our veteran
directors, for their exceptional contributions to our work.
Sharon said, “but because it is in the best interest of their child.”
in September 2003, and since then, the connection between the
two families has deepened.
Having cultivated good relationships with each of their three
children’s birth families, the Kaczmareks are well qualified to talk
about openness. Sharon fully recognizes the intense struggle
birthmothers go through and the incredible sacrifice they make.
“It is a decision they make not because they want to make it,”
Over the past few years, Sharon has delighted in watching how
far Lupe has come and how proactive she has been in turning
her life around. Lupe has taken courses at Truman College and
spoken in area high schools about teenage pregnancy, domestic
violence and adoption. A year and a half ago she met Rudy, a
kind, supportive man who understands the challenges of parenting as a young person. The Kaczmareks have taken Anthony
to see Lupe and her family, including her parents and brothers.
They, in turn, have come to visit Sharon, Greg and their kids.
Best wishes,
Everyone in this “extended family,” as Lupe calls it, is looking
forward to her wedding on the beach next summer.
Julie S. Tye
“One of the neatest things about the openness of these relationships is the people that come into our birth families’ lives,”
Sharon observed, such as new partners or spouses. Nicole,
birthmother of the Kaczmareks’ older son, Andrew, is now married and has two young sons, one of whom is Sharon’s godson.
Nicole and Andrew’s birthfather, Kevin, have remained friends
and recently spoke at The Cradle Foundation’s golf tournament
fundraiser. Ten-year-old Andrew goes on outings with his birth-
John Barth,
founder of
AdaZon Inc.
and Cradle dad
(x3!) was elected
to The Cradle
Foundation
Board in January
2007.
Barbara Sereda,
adoptive mom
and Founder
of Adoption
Advocates of
America, was
elected to The
Cradle Board in
March 2007.
Pamela Amos is
an investment
analyst and mom
to son Chris. She
was elected to
The Cradle Board
in January 2007
parents and half siblings and occasionally spends the night at
Nicole’s. The Kaczmareks’ eldest child, Julie, age 12, enjoys a
comfortable relationship with her birthparents, who are married
and live out of state. Julie’s birth grandparents live in northeast
Illinois, where she goes from time to time to visit them and ride
their horses.
Another benefit of openness, according to Sharon, is that it
helps children deal with issues surrounding adoption. “It brings
two families together, and there are more people to answer the
tough questions” children inevitably ask. Anthony Kaczmarek,
who turned four in May, has many people in his life who love
him and who’ll be there to answer his questions.
2 The Cradle Newsletter
POST ADOPTION WORKSHOPS
Open to the Community
NAVIGATING EARLY INTERVENTION AND
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
IN MEMORIAM
Saturday, September 29, 2007, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
DePaul University, Naperville Campus
Get an overview of the Early Intervention system for infants
and young children up to 3 years of age and the Special
Education system for children from 3 years to young adulthood. Learn about common risk factors, how and when to
search for services, eligibility requirements, types of service
plans, and how these services can help meet your child’s
developmental and learning needs.
The Cradle mourns the recent passing of two dedicated and
beloved Nursery staff members. Margaret Leonard, a graduate of The Cradle’s Infant Nurse Training Program, devoted
thirty-one years of service to the Nursery until her retirement
in 2006 due to health issues. She was the only local remain-
Presenter Pat Kluzik-Stauch, MA, is an adoptive parent and
Early Intervention Specialist with 20 years of experience as
ing graduate of this unique program in infant care that was
a teacher and educator.
started by Florence Walrath in 1923 and continued through
AIN’T MISBEHAVING – THE DIFFICULT
JOB OF DISCIPLINE
1978. “Even after she retired,” said Nursery Director Victoria
Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Cradle, Evanston
Gain a better understanding of your child’s emotions and
behavior and how to provide him/her with choices. Learn
techniques to be firm but kind, how to be more consistent
in your actions, and when consequences do and
don’t work.
Brooks, “Margaret would come in to hold the babies or fold
the laundry.” She also kept in touch with families in the area,
to get updates on their Cradle babies. After a long battle
with cancer, Margaret passed away on April 25 at age 64.
Speaker Nicole Hoffman, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with children and adults in individual,
marital, family and group therapy.
OPEN ADOPTION RELATIONSHIPS
AND HOW THEY EVOLVE
Saturday, November 3, 2007, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
The Cradle, Evanston
Winifred “Winnie” Kauffman, a volunteer Cuddler who
became a part-time infant aide six months ago, died suddenly on June 24 following a brain hemorrhage. An adopted
person herself, Winnie loved being at The Cradle and caring
Several families in open adoption relationships will share
their insights and experiences. While every situation is
for the babies in the Nursery. Victoria recalls that Winnie
unique, all relationships tend to change over time, with ups
and downs along the way. Our panel of adoptive parents
was thrilled when she got to go on her first baby pick-up. In
will offer their observations on openness and on communication with their child’s birthparents.
addition to working at The Cradle, Winnie held a doctorate
Workshop host and moderator, Susan Vernon, LCSW, is
The Cradle’s Director of Post Adoption Services.
in education and was on the faculty of Columbia College
Fees: $20 per person per workshop, $10 for second family
Chicago and National-Louis University. She was fifty-seven.
member, non-refundable. Register online at www.cradle.
org/ed_workshops.html or by calling 847.733.3233.
Both Winnie and Margaret will be deeply missed.
CONNECTING WITH l Friends
THE SILVER l Cradle
W
hen Cradle parents Don and Martha Pollack brought
six-year-old Rebecca home from Guatemala in 2001,
there was a welcome surprise waiting for them. Don, a
Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Company, learned
that the company provided reimbursement for a portion of their adoption fees, up to a total of $5,000. “The
Northern is a very family friendly company, and this is just
one way it supports its employees and their families,”
said Don. “It’s a recognition that not everyone adds to
their family in the same way, and the support is very much
appreciated.”
The Northern Trust is one of six winners of the 2007 Silver
Cradle Award, which is presented annually to Chicagobased companies that provide adoption benefits for their
employees. The other winners include Allstate Insurance
Co., Baxter International, McDonald’s Corp., Sidley Austin
LLP, State Farm Insurance Co. and W.W. Grainger. The
awards will be presented at the annual Cradle Ball, to be
held on September 29 at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.
The Silver Cradle Award is sponsored by The Cradle
Associates, the young professionals board of The Cradle.
Peter Hickey, president of the Associates, says the Silver
Cradle is intended to encourage companies to support
employees’ efforts to adopt. “There are so many children
who need families, and the cost of adoption fees can
be prohibitive for some families,” said Peter. “The Silver
Cradle Award recognizes companies that are helping
their employees connect with children in need of loving
homes.”
6 The Cradle Newsletter
6 The Cradle Newsletter
W
here can you go to learn about modern art or how
to prepare a rack of lamb? The answer is The Cradle
Foundation, where we have just completed our third in a
series of small parties to welcome new friends and reconnect
with old friends. Our purpose is to give our donors a better
understanding of the depth of Cradle programs and services,
and how everyone can help keep them strong. These events
feature special guests with a personal connection to adoption.
On May 31, we welcomed MacArthur Fellow and adoptive
father Inigo Manglano-Ovalle to The Cradle. Inigo discussed
the evolution of his extraordinary artwork, and shared the
story of his “Iceberg 2004,” a monumental steel and aluminum sculpture that was recently installed at The Art Institute
of Chicago. As Cradle President Julie Tye noted that evening,
most people have a limited understanding of The Cradle, seeing only the tip of the iceberg as our core adoption program,
with the bulk of our services to families, birthparents and children unseen and below the surface.
In June, two dozen people met with Julie Tye and Cradle
Foundation President Brooke Voss to discuss opportunities for
The Cradle through new supportive resources. The evening
has spurred further volunteer activity and planning.
Our third event was on July 12 at the newly opened Now
We’re Cookin’ commercial kitchen and demonstration space in
Evanston.
Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, aka The Hearty Boys, entertained us as they prepared a gourmet meal for thirty people.
Dan and Steve were the original winners of The Next Food
Network Star competition, and now have a
cooking show on the
network. They are
also fathers to Nate, a
two-year-old who, we
learned, is a dependably picky eater.
We are grateful to all
who have participated
in these events. If you
would like to be part
of the effort to secure
resources to support
The Cradle, please
call Sue Petersen at
847.733.3227 and she
will provide information about our next
intimate and informative event.
Iceberg 2004 by Inigo Manglano-Ovalle
BRINGING THE CRADLE
to the Classroom
E
very adoptive parent has heard the questions. Wellmeaning people ask, “What if he wants to find his
‘real’ mother?” … “How can she be your child if she
doesn’t look like you?” Misunderstandings about adoption are common, but more than a hundred Cradle volunteers work hard to spread accurate information. They
are members of our Volunteers for Adoption Education
(VAE) group. During the 2006-07 school year, VAE
spoke to nearly 200 high school and college classes.
VAE speakers tell their own stories, and include upto-date information about adoption. Although most
presentations are held in high school Health and Child
Development classes, VAE volunteers present programs
whenever and wherever they receive teachers’ requests,
and also represent The Cradle at school and com-
NOTEWORTHY
THE CRADLE ROCKS!
On March 27, the Chicago Tribune ran a terrific commentary
about The Cradle by senior correspondent, editor and columnist Charles M. Madigan. Earlier in the month, Madigan
had made a donation to The Cradle and came in for a tour
with Julie Tye. He praises the organization and our work in
his article, concluding that The Cradle “deserves to thrive.”
Madigan also highlights the need for donors to give regularly if The Cradle is to continue serving children and families.
For a copy of “The Cradle rocks!” contact Heidi Bloom at
847.733.3240 or [email protected].
ALP LAUNCHES COURSE #9
Adoption Learning Partners launched its ninth course,
“Adopting the Older Child,” on May 10. This engaging,
interactive online course is designed to help prospective
adoptive parents determine whether adopting an older
child, either internationally or through the domestic child
welfare system, is right for them. For more information, go
to www.adoptionlearningpartners.org.
munity health fairs. This year’s presentations covered
CRADLE FAMILY IN THE NEWS
a huge geographic area – from Antioch High School
On May 15, Fox News Chicago aired a poignant story about
Cradle parents Meg and Scott Costello and their two Russian
sons – Ilyin, who came home with his mom and dad in
January of this year, and Nikolai, who has been waiting in a
Siberian orphanage since 2004, because the Russian government has not yet cleared his adoption. Julie Tye was also
interviewed for this story. For a link to the webcast, e-mail
[email protected].
in the north, to Coal City High School in the south, to
Johnsburg High School in the northwest, and Plainfield
and Geneva in the west.
Many speakers are needed to handle all the presentation requests. If you’re a birthparent, adopted adult, or
adoptive parent, you can help! Since most programs are
held during regular school hours, you should have some
daytime availability. The next VAE Speakers Training
Seminar will be held Saturday morning, September 15,
at The Cradle. For more information, please contact
Lynne Firestone, Volunteer Coordinator, at 847.733.3229
or [email protected].
NETWORKING for Special
Needs Adoptive Parents
We are exploring the possibility of organizing an informal support group for Cradle adoptive families in the
Chicago area. If you adopted a child with special needs
and are interested in meeting with other parents to discuss your experience, share information and socialize,
please e-mail Martha King at [email protected]
or call Heidi Bloom at 847.733.3240.
THE CRADLE SOCIETY IN RUSSIA IS
RE-ACCREDITED!
In a ceremony on July 4th at the Ministry of Education in
Moscow, the Russian government issued an official renewal
of accreditation to The Cradle’s Russia adoption program.
The Cradle is one of only a handful of U.S. agencies in the
first group of agencies being accredited and the only Illinoisbased agency now accredited by the Russian government.
This much anticipated move to issue re-accreditations effectively reopens Russia to U.S. families looking to adopt.
STAFF MILESTONES
Congratulations to the following staff members who recently
celebrated anniversaries of more than a decade (or two!) of
service to The Cradle:
Jane Page, Clinical Director of Adoption Services – 28 years
Kathleen Perysian, CIN, The Cradle Nursery – 24 years
Diana Lazarus, RN, The Cradle Nursery – 19 years
Pam Summers, Case Aide – 16 years
SUMMER EVENTS l Benefit the Cradle
WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO
OUR GENEROUS EVENT SPONSORS
AND DONORS:
CRADLE CLASSIC SPONSORS
GOLD
The Connelly Family Foundation, Merrill Lynch (Larry
Macy),The Northridge Group, Inc., Water Street
SILVER
ASC Architects, AT&T (Jerry Gerami and Vicki Jones),
BCU, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, Evanston
Northwestern Healthcare, Susan and
Scott Garrett, VeriSign
Third place foursome of Ray Finato, Marc Heidkamp, Bob Bourke and
Alan Curtis had a great day at Knollwood.
L
ake Forest’s Knollwood Club, one of the premier golf clubs in
Illinois, was the setting for The Cradle Foundation’s seventh
annual benefit tournament, The Cradle Classic, held on Monday,
June 11. Over 100 friends of adoption turned out for a brilliantly
sunny but mild day filled with eighteen holes of golf on this
championship caliber course, shootout and putting events, lunch,
a silent auction, $1,500 cash raffle and post-tournament reception. The afternoon also included hole-in-one contests to win
fabulous prizes including a 2007 Ford Mustang Convertible, a set
of Callaway Golf irons and a cruise package for two.
Event chair Greg Kaczmarek, a Cradle parent of three, led a dedicated team of volunteers whose efforts helped raise more than
$70,000 for The Cradle. We would like to thank everyone who
played a part in ensuring the success of this year’s Cradle Classic
and congratulate the day’s winners.
WINNING FOURSOME
Steve Consago, Anthony
LoCascio, E.J. Mazzei and
Tony Perrelli
STRAIGHTEST DRIVE, MEN &
WOMEN (HOLE #10)
Jerry Bear and
Marianne Tadish
CLOSEST TO THE PIN, MEN
& WOMEN
Marc & Marcie Heidkamp
(Hole #12)
Dave Hormel (Hole #4)
LONGEST DRIVE, MEN &
WOMEN (HOLE #1)
Joe Drygas and
Becky Adorable
SPECIAL SPONSORSHIPS
Juliet S. Amante, Contact Telecom, Garrett Capital
Advisors, Mariani Enterprises
HOLE SPONSORS
Bernardi Securities, Inc., Nicole and Bryce Bulman, Bank
of America, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Health
Advances LLC, Leaders Bank, Carol and Lance Piccolo,
Richard F. Riley, Jr.
RAFFLE, HOLE-IN-ONE, SHOOTOUT AND
PUTTING EVENTS
The Quatrochi Family and Westfield Ford
A DAY AT THE RACES SPONSORS
WIN
PFS, Sharmac Capital Management
DAILY DOUBLE
Cathleen and Joel Jaglin, Ann and Mark Mersmann
EXACTA
Mary and Jim Connelly, Friends of Peter Hickey
SPECIAL SPONSORSHIPS
Bridgestone Company, Friends of Corry Connelly
IN-KIND DONORS
Sunset Foods, Wilmette Pet Supplies
Special thanks to the many individuals and
businesses that donated silent auction items for the
above events.
4 The Cradle Newsletter
A DAY AT THE RACES
FOUNDATION l Briefs
SPECIAL GIVING OPPORTUNITY ENDS
DECEMBER 31
From left, Peter Hickey, Callie Chang, Brooke Voss, Alison Tye, Nancy
Iida, Dominique Iida, Julie Tye, Corry Connelly and Eric Mersmann
A
sell-out crowd of 320 Cradle parents, children and
friends joined us at Arlington Park on Sunday, June 24
for A Day at the Races. Presented by The Cradle Foundation
and The Cradle Associates, this annual all-age event is a
favorite among Cradle families. Guests enjoyed beautiful
weather, exciting horse racing, an elegant buffet lunch and
fun activities for the kids. Thanks to the generous support of
our sponsors, attendees, and everyone who purchased a raffle ticket or bid on a silent auction item, A Day at the Races
raised more than $45,000 for The Cradle.
We would also like to thank event co-chairs Eric Mersmann
and Nancy Iida and the members of their committee for
organizing such a terrific day. “Once again it was a fantastic
afternoon and a lot of fun for everyone who attended the
event,” Mersmann said. “A Day at the Races was a great
success thanks to the hard work and generosity of many
people. The Cradle Associates are very proud of the results.”
If you are already taking a minimum required distribution from your IRA, consider donating it to
The Cradle Foundation before you pay taxes on it!
Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Cradle
supporters who are 70.5 years or older may make a
tax-free distribution of up to $100,000 directly from
their IRA to The Cradle Foundation. The gift must be
transferred directly from your IRA fund manager prior
to December 31, 2007 to qualify. Please call Jenny
Merdinger at 847.448.8752 or Stefanie Dziedzic at
847.733.3232 for more information.
SUPERVALU SUPPORTS THE CRADLE
Minneapolis-based SUPERVALU Inc., the third largest retail grocery chain in the U.S., recently made a
$7,000 grant to The Cradle through the company’s
“Chip-In for Charity” program and the SUPERVALU
Foundation. SUPERVALU senior VP and chief information officer, Paul Singer, is the driving force behind
the “Chip-In” initiative, which raises funds in support
of adoption and child welfare organizations through
employee contributions. Singer is also the father of
three girls adopted from Russia.
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN
The Cradle has been approved for inclusion in the
2007 Chicago Area Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC). The world’s largest and most successful
annual workplace giving campaign, the CFC collects pledges made by federal civilian, postal and
military donors during the campaign season (Sept. 1
to Dec. 15) in support of eligible health and human
service organizations. If you or someone you know
works for the federal government and participates
in the CFC, please consider making a pledge to The
Cradle Foundation (ID #20149) this year. Thanks!