Community Adoption and Orphan Fundraiser September 22 in Port

The 9th annual Forever Families adoption and orphan care fundraiser event will take place at Friedens Church in Port Washington on Saturday September 22nd. The community-wide event, which features a run/walk, kids’ warrior fun course, silent auction and amazing bake sale, raises funds for adoption grants and orphan-related organizations world-wide; and helps to raise community awareness for orphans and adoption. Since 2010, this annual event, sponsored by the Forever Families ministry of Friedens Church, has raised more than $120,000 to assist families in southeastern Wisconsin in their adoption and foster parenting efforts and to assist orphanages overseas. In the last eight years, Forever Families has provided grants to support adoption of more than 35 children, including those with special needs. 100% of the proceeds from the event go to support adoption and orphan care. Though Forever Families is associated with Friedens Church, their focus is well beyond the members of the church, with more than 85% of grants to families outside of the church. Forever Families has also provided financial support to orphanages in India, Ethiopia, Romania, China, Honduras, and Haiti.

The silent auction has been a significant source for fundraising. Some of the exciting items featured in this year’s giant auction include a laptop, big screen tv, vacation rentals, dozens of local/national gift cards, services, sport & event tickets, memberships, and much more.

The extravagant bake sale will offer dozens of varieties of specialty themed and professionally decorated cupcakes and a wide range of bakery and confections. Early arrival is suggested as the bake sale sells out quickly.

The Kidja Warrior Fun Course features age-appropriate climbing, crawling and balancing obstacles for children 10 and under. The course is available from 10 am until noon on September 22rd in the church parking lot on the corner of Milwaukee and Van Buren Streets in Port Washington. A trip around the course will be $5 or a wristband will be available for $10. Children 10 and under who register for either of the run/walk events will receive a wristband with their registration.

New to Super Saturday this year will be Willow Brook Haven; a local animal rescue organization located in Grafton. Willow Brook Haven offers healing, rehabilitation and re-homing for a wide variety of rescue animals, and also provides education to the public regarding animal rescue and rehabilitation. Willow Brook Haven will provide the opportunity to interact and share love and affection with some of the animals currently in their care.

The event on September 22nd includes a 5K run/walk and a 2K walk events. Strollers are welcome. The deadline to pre-register for the run/walk is September 18. Registrations will also be accepted the day of the event. Same-day registration for the 5K and 2K events is from 8 to 8:40 a.m., with the run/walk beginning at 9 a.m. at Friedens Church, 454 N. Milwaukee St., Port Washington. The silent auction and bake sale is from 9 a.m. to noon inside the church. Pre-registration for the run/walk is $25 if submitted before September 18; $30 on day of the event; $50 maximum per family. Registration fee includes T-shirt to the first 150 registrants. Family registration for the run/walk includes three T-shirts. Additional T-shirts are $15. Registration forms, grant applications and more information about the event can be obtained online at www.friedenschurch.org/forever-families or by calling 262-284-2471.