The 2018 TCS New York City Marathon is coming up on November 4th. Between now & then, we'll be introducing you to Gladney's charity runners.

Meet Catalina, a Gladney Baby

“My parents used Gladney as their adoption agency when adopting me from Paraguay in 1994. I love being able to give back to Gladney, and I have been doing so for some time now. When I was in high school and college, I participated in Gladney's teen service trips to Colombia. During college, I volunteered during the summer at the Gladney office in New York City. When I came across the opportunity to be able to run the NYC marathon for Gladney and to raise money and awareness, I didn't give it a second thought. I knew at some point in my life I would like to run a marathon, so this felt like the perfect opportunity. So far, I have really enjoyed this experience. This is my first marathon, so I am learning a lot about myself as a runner.

A big part of my story, and my family's story, involves Gladney. I wouldn't be where I am today without Gladney. As a Gladney Baby and currently as a contract social worker for Gladney, I have so many memories involving Gladney. One of the most significant memories in my mind actually stems from a conversation I had with Gladney's previous president, Frank Garrott. I met Frank through Gladney's teen service trips to Colombia. During one of those trips, I had a great conversation with Frank about the power of adoption. In that moment, I felt an immense amount of gratitude towards my family and towards Gladney. We spent a week volunteering with children living in a child welfare institution in Colombia. Throughout the week, children would ask me what my mother and father were like and would share with me their wishes to have a family of their own. My conversation with Frank and my experiences with the children put into perspective how truly lucky I am to be adopted and sparked my desire to be an adoption advocate.”

Help the team reach their goals & create bright futures through adoption!