Latest news with #Adoption
Business Wire
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Hilton Grand Vacations Named One of Nation's Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces by Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV), the premier vacation ownership and experiences company, has yet again been ranked among the top 100 companies on Dave Thomas Foundation's 'Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces' list, which honors organizations that support its employees in building their families through adoption and foster care. For the sixth consecutive year, HGV leads in the hotel and travel industry on the Foundation's 'Best By Industry' list. 'It's an incredible honor to be recognized once again by the Dave Thomas Foundation for our exceptional adoption assistance benefits,' said Mark Wang, CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. 'This award underscores our unwavering commitment to supporting our team members at every stage of life. Our adoption assistance and parental leave programs exemplifies our family-first culture and our dedication to helping team members achieve their personal goals and dreams outside of work.' The company offers corporate, hourly and resort-based team members an adoption assistance benefit of up to $10,000 per child to help offset the cost of adoption. HGV also provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all eligible U.S. team members who have been with the company for 90 days. The parental leave program applies to birth and adoptive mothers and fathers, as well as team members who have a child via surrogacy. 'We know that these benefits can play a role in a family's decision to grow through foster care or adoption,' said Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. 'The organizations recognized this year demonstrate that these supports are not optional perks — they are essential elements of a workplace that values and strengthens families.' The Foundation partnered with RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute, to survey employers across the U.S. and score participants based on three criteria: financial reimbursement, paid leave and the percentage of employees eligible for those benefits. In addition to the 100 Best and Adoption Advocates lists, the Foundation ranks employers by size, industry, paid leave, foster care benefits and impact. View the complete 2025 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list at To learn more about HGV's culture, benefits and available openings, visit About Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) is recognized as a leading global timeshare company and is the exclusive vacation ownership partner of Hilton. With headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations develops, markets, and operates a system of brand-name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations. Hilton Grand Vacations has a reputation for delivering a consistently exceptional standard of service, and unforgettable vacation experiences for guests and nearly 725,000 Club Members. Membership with the Company provides best-in-class programs, exclusive services and maximum flexibility for our Members around the world. For more information, visit Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest and YouTube. About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for the more than 140,000 children waiting in North America's foster care systems. Created by Wendy's ® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. Through its signature program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids, the Foundation supports the hiring of adoption professionals who implement the Foundation's evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. This model has been proven up to three times more effective at serving youth who have been in foster care the longest, including teenagers, children with special needs and siblings. More than 12,000 children now have loving homes and permanent families thanks to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program and the Foundation's generous donors. To learn more, visit
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Family wanted: An intelligent young man, Damon hopes for parents who are patient
An intelligent young man with a passion for learning, Damon can easily hold a conversation about science-related topics. In fact, he's hoping to one day be a paleontologist. Damon, 13, loves any mentally stimulating activity. For example, give him the most difficult Lego set and he'll become engrossed by the challenge of figuring out which piece goes where. Aside from puzzle challenges, Damon enjoys basketball, baseball and just started running track. But if he had to pick just one, he says baseball is his favorite. The teen would love a family that shows up to cheer him on at all his events. He's also seeking a family that encourages him to try new things, has patience and makes the effort to spend quality time with one another. If you are interested in becoming an adoptive parent, visit the Adopt Kansas Kids website at You can also send an email to customercare@ or call 855-AdoptKS (855-236-7857). Damon's case number is Ch-0098.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada Launches Landmark National Program to Equip Nonprofits with AI for Social Impact
Funded by DIGITAL, the Human Feedback Foundation, The Dais, and Creative Destruction Lab will deliver a transformative program to close the AI adoption and skills gap in Canada's nonprofit sector — positioning Canada as a global leader in responsible AI for social impact TORONTO, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Human Feedback Foundation (HFF), The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, and Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) are proud to jointly announce the launch of the Responsible AI Adoption for Social Impact (RAISE) pilot program, a first-of-its-kind national initiative to help nonprofit organizations across Canada adopt artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly and effectively. With co-investment from DIGITAL, Canada's Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, the program aims to establish Canada as a global leader in responsible AI adoption for social good and create a replicable model for AI for Good, positioning Canada as a global leader in human-centered, responsible AI adoption. Canada's nonprofit sector, with over 170,000 organizations contributing $192 billion to the economy (8.3% of GDP), faces a significant digital skills and technology gap. Only 4.8% of nonprofits report using AI, and less than 1% of the workforce is engaged in tech roles, according to a 2024 CCNDR report. This gap limits the sector's ability to leverage AI to meet growing community needs. 'We believe nonprofits have the potential to lead in ethical, trustworthy AI adoption,' said Elena Yunusov, Founder and Executive Director, Human Feedback Foundation. 'The RAISE pilot is designed to build practical skills, AI governance expertise, and technical capacity so nonprofits can use AI as a force for good – amplify their impact and deliver on their missions, – while prioritizing inclusion, diversity, ethical standards, and trust.' Three Core Components of RAISE The RAISE pilot will accelerate responsible AI adoption through three integrated components: Organizational AI Adoption AcceleratorA 12-month program for 5 large nonprofit organizations to adopt AI in alignment with their missions, creating scalable, positive outcomes across multiple sectors. Led by Creative Destruction Lab, this initiative builds on the acclaimed Putting AI to Work program, helping nonprofits move from strategy to responsible implementation. CAMH Foundation - Mental Health & AddictionCAMH Foundation is responsible for raising funds for CAMH, Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital and a world-leading research centre in addiction and mental health. Canadian Cancer Society - Oncology & Patient AdvocacyThe Canadian Cancer Society funds groundbreaking cancer research, provides support services, and advocates for public policies to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Furniture Bank - Housing & Community SupportFurniture Bank is a Toronto-based charity that collects and distributes gently used furniture to help individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness or displacement. CanadaHelps - Charity Infrastructure & PhilanthropyCanadaHelps sparks generosity that powers the positive change that Canadians want to see. As the country's largest online donation and fundraising platform, CanadaHelps has raised more than $3.5 billion in support of thousands of Canadian charities and develops technology to help these organizations raise critical funds for their cause. Achēv - Employment & Newcomer IntegrationAchēv is one of the largest providers of employment, settlement, language, women, youth and technology solutions services in the GTA, that is committed to creating faster paths to prosperity for clients. AI Upskilling for Key RolesTargeted training for 500 nonprofit professionals to build AI literacy and integrate AI into roles like fundraising, data stewardship, policy, and service delivery. Led by The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, this initiative leverages their Secure and Responsible Technology Policy (SRTP) program to equip participants with AI literacy, practical skills, and governance fundamentals for responsible AI adoption. Responsible AI Adoption for Social Impact Governance FrameworkLed by the Human Feedback Foundation, this governance framework and AI adoption playbook will be co-developed with participating nonprofits to guide responsible AI adoption across the sector – prioritizing ethics, equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and measurable outcomes. Consortium Partners In addition to CDL and the Dais, the RAISE pilot proposal has been supported by Imagine Canada / Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR), Community Foundations of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, UHN – Cancer Digital Intelligence, Achēv, Camp Tech, MindPort, and Gambit Technologies, among many others who have all provided strong letters of support and will play a role in co-developing the sector-wide framework, sharing expertise, and ensuring the pilot addresses the needs of the sector and delivers meaningful impact. Partner Quotes André Côté, Interim Executive Director at The Dais, stated: 'We at the Dais believe that equipping non-profit workers with the knowledge and skills to responsibly use AI is essential for ensuring these powerful technologies amplify the sector's collective impact for Canada, while staying true to the principles of equity, transparency, and social good that guide our work.' Sonia Sennik, CEO of Creative Destruction Lab, shared: 'Through CDL's Putting AI to Work program, we are supporting organizations to translate artificial intelligence adoption into measurable productivity impact. Now, we're bringing that proven approach to Canada's nonprofit sector. By equipping nonprofit leaders with the tools and skills to adopt AI responsibly, we aim to amplify their missions nationwide.' About the Partners About Human Feedback FoundationThe Human Feedback Foundation is a leading Canadian AI nonprofit and a member of the Linux Foundation AI & Data. It is dedicated to advancing human-centered AI development, adoption, governance, and education, ensuring AI benefits all Canadians by amplifying human agency, input, and values in AI systems. For more: About The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan UniversityThe Dais is a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University, working at the intersection of technology, education and democracy to build shared prosperity and citizenship for Canada. Visit us at About Creative Destruction LabCreative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a nonprofit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies. Its nine-month program allows founders to learn from experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their likelihood of success. Founded by Professor Ajay Agrawal in 2012 at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, the program has expanded and now has 12 sites across six countries: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Halifax, Paris, Madison, Seattle, Estonia, Berlin, Melbourne, and College Station. Companies that have participated in the CDL program have created over $51 billion (CAD) in equity value. Learn more at About DIGITALDIGITAL is a national non-profit that accelerates the development, adoption and commercialization of made-in-Canada digital technologies and the skilling of Canadian talent with an innovation model led by industry. Through a unique combination of co-investment, cross-industry collaboration, IP creation and digital talent development, it has built one of the strongest digital innovation ecosystems in Canada. DIGITAL is one of Canada's five Global Innovation Clusters: For media inquiries or to learn more about the RAISE pilot, please contact: Elena YunusovExecutive DirectorHuman Feedback Foundationelena@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
World University Games: 11 athletes from Alva's College selected
Mangaluru: As many as 11 athletes from Alva's Education Foundation's Sports Adoption Scheme, representing Mangalore University, were selected to represent India in the forthcoming World University Games 2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The event is scheduled to be held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, from July 16 to 27. With this, the total number of athletes from the foundation participating in the games over the years has risen to 32. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, M Mohan Alva, president of the foundation, said the selection was a matter of great pride for the institution and the state. The athletes were selected during the trials held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar. In the men's category, the selected athletes are Gagan (5,000m run), Sachin (20km walk), Balakrishna (400m run), and Taufique N (decathlon). In the women's category, Deekshita (400m hurdles), Basanti Kumari (half marathon), Manju Yadav (steeplechase), Sindhusree (pole vault), Sakshi (javelin throw), Jyoti (half marathon), and Shalini (20km walk) secured their spots. All the selected athletes represent Mangalore University and trained under Alva's Sports Adoption Scheme. Each athlete will require a financial outlay of Rs 2.5 lakh to participate in the event. While Mangalore University has assured a contribution of Rs 75,000 per athlete, the remaining expenses are being borne by the foundation. Athletes from the Foundation participated in previous World University Games, with a total of 32 individuals selected, including this year. In the 2015 games held in Croatia, one athlete participated; in the 2017 games in Taiwan, two athletes participated; in the 2019 games in Italy, 10 athletes participated; and in the 2023 games in Chengdu, China, eight athletes took part.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elizabethton mothers say being a mom is 'more than blood'
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)—Mother's Day is a time to honor all mother figures in our lives, including those who became mothers in a nontraditional way. The idea of a mother has changed throughout the years. 'A mother is a person who loves, cares for and takes care of,' Elizabethton resident Angie Odom said. 'And it is a woman who shows a lot of strength, a lot of effort every day, day in and day out.' 'Someone who's willing to fight for, stand up for, advocate for, protect, love and nurture a child,' Elizabethton resident Ronda Paulson said. Odom is the founder of the TLC Community Center, which supports mothers and those seeking to adopt. She stated that the distinction of motherhood belongs to both families. 'Many times we'll say, 'Oh, you're a wonderful person because you adopted,'' Odom said. 'But I still feel like these mothers that have chosen adoption are wonderful individuals.' Odom has biological and adopted children. She said there is no difference in her love for both of her girls. 'I've heard people say that before, that there's no difference in between,' she said. 'But there truly isn't at all. You love them just the same. And there's extra protectiveness even sometimes there.' Paulson also has biological and adopted children and has experience as a foster mother. 'It's a bit of a roller coaster,' she said. 'And I know a lot of people are apprehensive about becoming a foster parent. But it was one of the biggest blessings that my husband and I have ever received.' Paulson founded Isaiah 117 House in Elizabethton, which provides housing for children awaiting their foster care placement. On Mother's Day, Paulson said she often thinks of the mothers of her adopted boys, and the mothers who step up. 'Mother's Day, it's tricky for a lot of women,' she said. 'Mother's Day is tricky for me as an adoptive mom. I think about my adoptive sons' mother today. Foster moms, I think of them on Mother's Day. Some of them they're being advocates for children that they believe are not in a safe environment.' Odom and Paulson said being a mother is about more than blood. 'It's really just about the role that you're playing and showing up,' Odom said. 'I think a lot of it is those that show up.' 'When you sign up to be a foster parent, what you're actually saying yes to is a child that needs a parent,' Paulson said. 'Needs a stand-in when they have no one.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
