Chosen Announces Nov. 13 Gala to Support Fostering and Adoption

Wauwatosa, Wis. - After a one-year hiatus with an all-virtual event, the “family” of Chosen, Inc. (“Chosen”), a non-profit ministry dedicated to supporting foster and adoptive families, will gather again Nov. 13 to celebrate these unique family-building journeys in person.

The “2021 Open Hearts, Open Homes Gala” opens at 5:30 p.m. at the Radisson Milwaukee West, 2303 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa. As in previous years, the evening will again be filled with stories of warmth, encouragement and “Fostering Forever Families” by providing safe, loving homes for children.

Get your tickets soon! Due to the host venue’s food supply chain challenges, guests are asked to register by Oct. 17. Details about a virtual attendance options will be announced soon.

Supporters of Chosen, Inc. will learn the latest details on plans to open a West Allis Family Closet, modeled after The Family Closet in Waukesha. The center provides free clothing and children’s items to foster and adoptive families.

A special message will be given by Linda Oberbrunner, an author, adoption advocate and member of Chosen’s Advisory Board. A longtime employee of the Wisconsin Evangelical Child & Family Agency, she served as a social worker at the Salvation Army and Waukesha County Jail.

Additional presentations will share Chosen’s recent accomplishments, and how it plans to respond to an expected dramatic increase in foster care needs due to COVID-19.

Online bidding for a number of silent auction items has opened. Several high-profile auction items will be sold live at the Nov. 13 event.

The “Open Hearts, Open Homes” Gala is the largest fund-raiser for Chosen’s hands-on programs, support and outreach to foster and adoptive families, and educational outreach to the community at large. Hundreds of guests and volunteers have attended Chosen’s galas.

“We are thrilled to greet all our supporters in person again, and thank them for making our outreach to foster and adoptive families possible,” said Karen Schlindwein, Vice-President of Education and Development for Chosen. “Our virtual event was tremendously successful in 2020, but nothing beats the opportunity to express our gratitude in person.”

Registration for the Nov. 13 gala, and access to early online silent auction shopping, are available at https://www.choseninlove.org/2021gala.

The Duerr Group is the event’s headline sponsor. Additional sponsorships are available for the event. Several more sponsors have already signed on including The Edge Contracting, Exciting Events, Flowers by Cammy, International Monetary Systems, Meijer, Norris Therapeutic Foster Care, SaintA, Ed and Kristin Sarskas, Waukesha County Foster Care, and We Energies Foundation. Silent/live auction donations are also gladly accepted.

Chosen is dedicated to educating the public about the impact of adoption and fostering, and providing spiritual, material, and emotional support to families who have chosen these oft-misunderstood paths. Chosen shares resource referrals to other organizations and professionals to help meet the needs of adoptive and foster families. Its long-term goals include opening a multi-family foster community to care for children in need of a loving home.

More information about Chosen is available at www.choseninlove.org, by calling (262) 724-6736, or following on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OurChosenFamily.