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First Niagara supports Adoption STAR and post-adoption services

by jmaloni

Submitted

Fri, Jul 18th 2014 11:55 pm

Bank will provide grant funding for support programs for local families through every stage of the adoption journey

The First Niagara Foundation and Adoption STAR are working together to ensure anyone touched by adoption is able to get the services and assistance they need post-adoption.

Adoption STAR's newest initiative, Family STAR, provides post-adoption services to adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees on an ongoing basis, as adoption truly is a life-long journey. These services work to help individuals and families achieve greater stability, deeper understanding, and a lifelong relationship with the agency through its Family STAR initiative.

The First Niagara Foundation is providing a $5,000 grant to fund the Family STAR programs. Family STAR's services are available to any and all individuals in the community, not just Adoption STAR clients.

"First Niagara is committed to supporting initiatives that build partnerships and create thriving communities," said Buford Sears, First Niagara regional president, Western New York. "We are proud to work with Adoption STAR to support local families and contribute to their well-being."

"Research supports (the) fact that accessing post-adoption support and services helps adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees in countless ways," said Michele Fried, Adoption STAR Founder/CEO. "Adoption STAR understands that there is a substantial lack of post-adoption services not only locally, but also nationally. Creating Family STAR was our agency's response to this 'service void,' and is representative of our commitment to help anyone and everyone touched by adoption. We are so appreciative of the First Niagara Foundation's financial support of Family STAR."

The First Niagara Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable entity. Founded in 1998, the First Niagara Foundation is committed to supporting organizations in the communities in which members live and work, with specific focus on youth and education, community development and neighborhood revitalization. In 2013, First Niagara contributed more than $9 million in charitable grants to community partners across the bank's four-state footprint. 

For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com/community.

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