Northwest Resource Associates Receives $90,000 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Expand Northwest Adoption Exchange Program

SEATTLE -- Northwest Resource Associates, a nonprofit organization focused on emerging issues in the child and family welfare field, has received a $90,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand their Northwest Adoption Exchange program.

"The grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will make such a positive impact on our Northwest Adoption Exchange program," said Executive Director Robert Hunner. "Our goals of increasing adoption numbers and providing more support to new adoptive families will be greatly enhanced with the help of the Foundation's generous assistance."

The Northwest Adoption Exchange program has been providing special needs adoption services since 1976 by facilitating adoptive placements in Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington through its regularly published photolisting book. The photolisting book, which includes children's photographs and biographical information, is a primary resource for many families searching to adopt children with special needs.

A portion of the funds received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will go towards developing a post-adoption treatment and certification program at Antioch University in Seattle. This innovative program, launching in July 2000, will be an invaluable resource for families in the immediate post-adoption phase.

"Northwest Resource Associates is doing amazing work with child and family welfare issues in the Pacific Northwest," said William H. Gates, Sr., Co-Chair & CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is quite proud to support such an important organization."

For more information about any of the Northwest Resource Associates programs, including the Northwest Adoption Exchange program, please contact Robert Hunner at 206-441-6911 or visit the web site.