Facts:

Mission:	Create Bright Futures Around the World
Founding Information:	Texas Children's Home and Aid Society founded in 1887 by Methodist minister Rev. I. Z. T. Morris
Current Name:	Gladney Center for Adoption
President:	Michael J. McMahon, 1988 to present
Main Campus:	Fort Worth, Texas
Regional Offices:	Dallas, Houston and Midland, TX; Greensboro, NC; New York, NY; and Pittsburgh, PA.
Number of Children Placed:	27,000
Number of Birth Mothers Served:	37,000

Services:

For Birth Parents: Openness and flexibility in the adoption process Residential facility which includes: spacious living environment beautiful views workout facility swimming pool Community Service program available for birthmothers who choose to live at home. Both programs offer private medical care, individual and group counseling, thorough legal services by staff attorneys experienced in adoption law, educational opportunities and life-long post adoption services. For Adoptive Parents: International and domestic adoption programs A caring and experienced social work staff Counseling and education about adoption Thorough and knowledgeable legal services Access to parent support groups nationwide Openness and flexibility in the adoption process Permanent maintenance of vital adoption records Parenting education Post adoption services For Adopted Persons: Comprehensive post adoption services Counseling, education and campus tours Maintenance of all adoption records Information exchanged between adoptive parties, if requested A mutual-consent voluntary registry, after age 18 Direct, post adoption contact at age 18 or older, if requested by both parties.

History/Timeline Highlights:

1887	Founded in Fort Worth, Texas
1927	Edna Gladney was named Superintendent of the Texas Children's Home.
1936	Edna Gladney successfully fought to pass a bill in the Texas legislature. It made Texas the first state in the Southwest to legally remove the stigma of illegitimacy from birth records.
1941	The movie "Blossoms in the Dust" starring Greer Garson highlighted the accomplishments of Edna Gladney.
1951	Edna Gladney successfully argued that adopted children should have the same inheritance rights as biological children.
1950	In honor of her decades of service, the Board of Directors renamed the agency The Edna Gladney Home.
1952	The Houston Auxiliary, the first support group of Gladney volunteers, formed in 1952. Today, there are 16 auxiliaries operating around the country.
1960	Mrs. Gladney retired in April, 1960 at the age of 74.
1961	Edna Gladney died from complications from diabetes on Oct. 2, 1961.
1963	Ruby Lee Piester joined the staff as director of social services in 1960. In 1963 she was named executive director, a position she would hold for more than 20 years.
1970	The Fort Worth Independent School District first opened a branch on Gladney's campus. Prior to that, education for birth mothers was provided by tutors.
1976	Gladney introduced its 1-800-crisis pregnancy hotline. It was thought to be the first such hotline in the country.
1980	Gladney became a charter member of the National Council for Adoption (NCFA), which was organized to promote agency adoptions
1983	The Texas Legislature enacted its Voluntary Registry Law. The Gladney Center created its own Voluntary Registry at that time, in accordance with Texas law. Gladney also operates a Sibling Registry for adopted persons born to the same birth mother or birth father.
1987	The agency celebrated its Centennial with former First Lady Barbara Bush, a Gladney grandparent, as special guest.
1987	Gladney began operating with an assumed name certificate as The Edna Gladney Center. In 1991, the Board officially renamed the agency The Gladney Center.
1992	Gladney's current international adoption program began in 1992. Today, Gladney maintains programs in China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia and Ukraine.
1992	The Gladney Fund was created as a separate not-for-profit organization devoted to raising funds to support The Gladney Center.
1995	Gladney went on-line in December 1995. Gladney's home page address is www.gladney.org.
1997	Former President George Bush joined families as they celebrated Gladney's 110th Anniversary and Homecoming in October 1997.
1999	Gladney launched national advertising campaign and created new logo.
2000	Adoptive parent profiles available on line for immediate viewing by birthmothers.
2002	Gladney opens its doors to a new campus and celebrates 115 years of creating bright futures through adoption.