Press Room

'We have the best mom on the face of the planet. We would do anything to adopt her, but she adopted us first,' Jasmine, 14, and Carter, 9.

Jasmine and Carter are just two children from many who were once in the foster care system. They no longer worry about where they will sleep at night, who will show up at their school plays and who will remember their birthdays.

They found their forever family, but there are thousands still waiting for a mom and dad to call their own. There are more than 14,000 children in foster care this year – an unprecedented number.

To thank the mothers who have stepped up to give children a permanent, loving home, children adopted through the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) are invited to participate in the essay contest Together, Forever: Children Honor Their Adoptive Moms.

Participants need only to write a 250 word or less essay explaining, 'Why my mother is so special.' The contest is divided into two age groups, ages 6 to 10 and ages 11 to 18. One grand prize winner will be selected from each category, as well as a runner up winner.

One entry per family and the first 50 entrants will receive a coupon for a free junior Frosty at Wendy’s and two tickets to the April 15 Phoenix Suns basketball game!

The mothers and their children will be treated to an exclusive prize package which may include jewelry by Moda Fina, a portrait session with Bob Stambach Photography, a salon experience at Dolce Salon & Spa, gift baskets from Philosophy and Abstract Hair Artistry, tickets to a Phoenix Mercury game and a gift certificate to Dream Dinners.

The contest begins March 12 and submissions will be accepted through 5 p.m. April 11. Entries can be submitted by email to mothersdayessay@aask-az.org or by U.S. mail to Aid to Adoption of Special Kids, Attention: Contest, 2320 N. 20th St., Phoenix, AZ 85006. Entries can also be faxed to 602-930-4533. Winners will be chosen April 24.

For complete contest rules and the entry form, visit www.aask-az.org/mothersday

The contest is a collaborative effort with KPNX-News Channel 12, the Arizona Republic and Aid to Adoption of Special Kids, a nonprofit agency dedicated to helping children in the foster care system build lasting relationships with caring adults through foster care, adoption and mentoring.

To learn more about the essay contest, Together, Forever: Children Honor Their Adoptive Moms, or to find out how you can be a partner in this project, contact AASK’s Director of Communications Melanie Freeman by calling 602.930.4410 or send email to mothersdayessay@aask-az.org.

PHOENIX – May is National Foster Care Month, a time designated by the National Foster Care Month Partnership to shine a public light on the plight of children and youth in foster care. In Arizona, there are more than 11,000 children in foster care, and Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) strives to help these kids find the families they deserve.

During the last decade, the number of young people in the U.S. who “age out” of foster care has risen steadily – from 19,000 in 1999 to nearly 30,000 in 2008. On their own, without the safety net of a family or the education they need to compete in the workplace, these young adults are more likely to face homelessness, incarceration, poverty and other negative outcomes.

'By celebrating National Foster Care Month, we can help bring awareness to the issues that are facing kids in the foster care system,' said Melissa Gable, director of marketing and development at AASK. 'We want to spread the word about how every individual can make a difference for foster kids by becoming a foster or adoptive parent, mentoring, donating or becoming part of our community.'

During May, the Foster Care Month Partnership and AASK are calling on all Americans to help make a difference in the life of at least one young person in foster care.

No matter how much – or how little – time you have to give, you can make a difference for a child in foster care. Everyday citizens can help to change a lifetime for a child or youth in foster care by becoming foster or adoptive parents; serving as relative caregivers, advocates or donors; and becoming mentors to foster youth or children in foster care through AASK’s mentoring program.

AASK has partnered with Valley businesses to help spread the word and raise money to support foster kids. During May, you can help support kids in Arizona’s foster care system by participating in these promotions:

Raise dough for AASK at Oregano’s in south Tempe and Paradise Valley! These two locations will donate 20 percent of a lunch, dinner or takeout meal price on Monday, May 7. To support AASK, please present a downloadable flyer when purchasing a meal (available at www.aask-az.org).

The Arrowhead Sweet Tomatoes location only will donate 15 percent of a meal and beverage price to AASK on Monday, May 28 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. To support AASK, please present a downloadable flyer when purchasing a meal (available at www.aask-az.org).

You can purchase discount tickets to Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa to help support foster kids. The promotion begins during the grand opening weekend May 12-13, and will continue through the whole summer! Just visit tickets.golfland.com and enter store name “aask” to see the discounted rates.

Cookies from Home in Tempe will donate 15 percent of the price for a special AASK tin of homemade cookies!

AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in successful placement of foster children in Maricopa county, is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the vision of ensuring every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. AASK has helped more than 1,900 foster children find permanent AASK homes and 95 percent of those placements remain in place today. With adoption, foster care and mentor programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families everyday. For more information, visit www.aask-az.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AidtoAdoptionofSpecialKids.

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Coyotes have teamed up with Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) to present 'Fan Appreciation Night' on Saturday, March 31, 2012. Hockey fans can purchase a discounted ticket to the game, and for every ticket sold, $5 will be donated back to AASK to support foster kids.

The Coyotes will take on the Anaheim Ducks at 6 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. Tickets have been discounted to give even more Coyote fans the opportunity to come to the ice. Plus, every ticket sold will bring AASK closer to a $10,000 grant from Coyotes Charities. You can purchase the discounted tickets by visiting www.aask-az.org/coyotes.php.

There are more than 11,000 foster kids in Arizona, and partnerships like this one help AASK maintain the programs and services that help those kids find the families they deserve. Through adoption, foster care and mentoring, AASK has been serving foster kids and their families since 1988. It is the largest nonprofit agency in Maricopa County that solely focuses on foster kids.

'We are so grateful for the support of the Phoenix Coyotes,' said AASK Director of Development and Marketing Melissa Gable. 'We hope that people will come out to the game to have a great time and support AASK at the same time!'

For more information about how you can help a foster child, visit www.aask-az.org or attend one of AASK’s free information sessions held at locations around the Valley.

AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in successful placement of foster children in Maricopa county, is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the vision of ensuring every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 24-year history, AASK has helped more than 1,900 foster children find permanent adoptive homes. With adoption, foster care and mentor programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families everyday. For more information, visit www.aask-az.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AidtoAdoptionofSpecialKids.

PHOENIX – January is National Mentoring Month, and Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) is celebrating by asking Valley residents to step forward to provide guidance to a child in foster care.

There are currently more than 100 foster children waiting to be matched with a mentor, and the need for mentors is especially high in the West Valley. Mentors play a powerful role in preventing substance abuse and youth violence, as well as boosting academic achievement and workforce readiness.

Because foster children’s lives are often unstable and unpredictable, a mentor can offer a trusting adult relationship when there otherwise may be none. Older youth who have been in foster care but are preparing to “age out” of the system need extra help learning the skills it takes to be independent.

'A mentor can help with things like learning to balance a checkbook or grocery shopping,' said Melissa Gable, director of development and marketing at AASK. 'These are skills that the kids may not have learned when they transitioned from home to home in foster care. The relationship between a mentor and their matched youth can make such a difference in that child’s life.'

AASK’s mentoring program pairs a responsible adult over age 18 with a foster child age 8-21, with a special need for mentors of teens. Mentors are asked for a year-long commitment to the program and are asked to give a minimum of two hours each month. To find your mentor match, visit the AASK website at www.aask-az.org and click on 'Next steps'

January 2012 marks the 11th anniversary of National Mentoring Month, and President Barack Obama signed a proclamation announcing the designation and encouraging adults to give their time to helping youth through mentoring. To view the presidential proclamation, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/12/28/presidential-proclamation-national-mentoring-month-2012.

AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in successful placement of foster children in Maricopa county, is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the vision of ensuring every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 24 year history, AASK has helped more than 1,700 foster children find permanent AASK homes and 95 percent of those placements remain in place today. With adoption, foster care and mentor programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families everyday. For more information, visit www.aask-az.org.

PHOENIX -- Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) is honored to be the recipient of Peoria Unified School District’s 2011 Student Council Charity Selection Leadership program. The nine-year-old program is dedicated to giving back to the community by engaging elementary students in fundraising initiatives that benefit local charitable organizations.

AASK and five other organizations were presented at the annual 'Leadership Days' summit, where 31 student councils from across the district voted for the organization they would like to support. All nominees must be a non-profit agency and demonstrate a genuine need for support.

The councils plan to fundraise in support of AASK with various events like car washes, rummage sales and donations throughout the year. A grand-total check will be presented to AASK on April 24 at the Peoria Sports Complex in conjunction with a student council 'PLUS DAYS' event.

With more than 11,000 foster children in Arizona, there is a great need for financial support. The funds raised by PUSD will be used to support several AASK programs and initiatives and find loving forever families for Arizona’s foster children.

Other charities supported in the past are: Camp Candlelight, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Andrea’s Closet, Abby’s Fight for Life, Natalie’s House, Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Peoria and Glendale.

AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in successful placement of foster children in Maricopa county, is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the vision of ensuring every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 23 year history, 1,600 foster children have been placed into permanent AASK homes and 95 percent of those placements remain in place today. With adoption, foster care and mentor programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families everyday. For more information, please visit www.aask-az.org.

The Peoria Unified School District, located in the West Valley, serves more than 36,000 students in 32 elementary schools, 7 high schools and one alternative school. With ongoing open enrollment and alternative educational opportunities, the District boasts a 94 percent high school graduation rate. Peoria Unified prides itself on excelling schools, award-winning teachers, high AIMS test scores, specialized signature programs and championship sports programs. The Vision of the Peoria Unified School District is, 'Every student, every day, prepared to meet tomorrow.' For more information, visit the District's website, www.peoriaud.k12.az.us or social media at www.facebook.com/peoriaschooldistrict and www.twitter.com/peoriaunified11.

Phoenix, AZ -- Aid to Adoption of Special Kids (AASK) is pleased to announce the opening of the West Valley Family Connections Center in Peoria; an 18,000 square-foot, multi-purpose facility that provides training space, support services and programs for Valley foster children and families.

Approximately 70 percent of foster children in Maricopa County reside in the West Valley, according to recent data from the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Of the 506 children currently residing in AASK homes, one third of these children are in the West Valley. The number of children in AASK homes continues to rise with the agency reporting an increase of 70 children from last year.

Stability is essential for all foster children to thrive, which is why placement nearby their own home, friends and school is paramount. Foster families and birth families have regular contact and close proximity means more convenience and less anxiety for the children. It also means foster families and mentors are needed more than ever, in every West Valley neighborhood.

The new office is available to serve families throughout the Valley, but will be especially convenient for those in Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Waddell.

Located off the Loop 101 south of Bell Road on 83rd Avenue, the facility offers orientations and trainings in both English and Spanish for potential adoptive and foster families. AASK’s West Valley Family Connections Center also includes four private meeting rooms; a children’s library; a child activity center; a life-skills center for youth, including a kitchen and laundry room; and office space.

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AASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in successful placement of foster children in Maricopa county, is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the vision of ensuring every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 23 year history, 1,600 foster children have been placed into permanent AASK homes and 95 percent of those placements remain in place today. With adoption, foster care and mentor programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families everyday. For more information, please visit www.aask-az.org.

Back-to-school time is exciting for most kids, but for the more than 10,000 children in Arizona’s foster care system, it can be a source of embarrassment and anxiety. Many foster children fear going to school empty-handed, without a backpack, or even the most basic of school supplies.

To help ease their fears, Prudential Financial has partnered with AASK – Aid to Adoption of Special Kids, for the Annual Backpack Challenge. This is the ninth year Prudential Financial has conducted the Challenge, which ensures foster children across the country have everything they need to start the school year.

There are more than 500 foster children, living in AASK homes throughout Maricopa County and many of these youth will benefit from the Backpack Challenge. Local Prudential employees will gather at the Scottsdale branch and assemble the backpacks, which will be donated to AASK and distributed in time for back-to-school season.

For foster children, the first day of class often means living with a new family, attending a new school in a new community, and making new friends. By providing school supplies, AASK and Prudential allow these children to focus on more important matters: their education and future.

Last year, valley Prudential employees collected 479 backpacks, which AASK provided to local foster children.

About AASKAASK (Aid to Adoption of Special Kids), the leader in the successful placing of foster children in Maricopa county, is a private non-profit organization founded in 1988 with the mission of ensuring that every child in Arizona’s foster care system has someone who cares. In its 23 year history, AASK has placed 1,600 children into permanent homes with 95 percent of placements remaining in place today. With adoption, fostering and mentoring programs available, and locations in Phoenix and Peoria, AASK impacts the lives of hundreds of Arizona foster children and families. For more information, please visit www.aask-az.org.