BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WANT THIS SWEATSHIRT

$35 at www.krudco.com



We all know that kids need to get all that energy out and what better way to do it than skateboarding!

For the past 18 years, Krudco skateshop has been selling Rochester-area skateboarders their decks and wheels but, this afternoon, the skater-owned and run shop posted this:

It's time for the truth---
KRUDCO Skate shop is dangerously close to going out of business. I no longer work at the shop because there is no one shopping here. If you really want Krudco around then people need to start supporting with more than just words on Facebook.
There is NO skateshop in this area that has done and still does for the local community like krud does. KRUDCO is run by skaters that LOVE skateboarding and want share with you what brings us happiness.
We believe in voting with your dollar and from what we have seen the kids and their parents don't want a shop that puts on events/mentors kids with school projects/fights in city hall/ local towns to get skateparks and a lot more.
You kids love the mall and the internet and I don't get it.
Distance might be an issue but it wasn't for the kids in the past, so why now?
I will continue to work on the Roc City park board to try and get a world class skatepark but it will be a lot more difficult with out the support of the community.
It is officially time to step up and decide.
If you choose someone else than all we can do is shut down and move on.
Thanks to everyone that has supported KRUDCO for 18 yrs. I hope it lasts longer.
I love skateboarding.
-Alan
PS: Krudco knows they are not perfect and don't carry everything but stopping in with an open mind and trying can help.

The Rochester community is lucky to have such an awesome shop to support youth in doing something healthy and positive with their time. As you can read above, they love what they do and they enjoy giving back to their community. They have created events, mentored youth, and even served as a catalyst in creating what could be the country's largest skatepark right here in Rochester. And in regards to Children Awaiting Parents, they have even been so generous as to donate skateboards to our auctions, allowing us to raise money to help our youth find permanent, loving homes - something that's priceless. 

So here's where we need your help.

You don't need to be a Rochesterian to know that it's all about community. These are our children, our youth. This is our neighborhood. Please share this post, talk about what's going on and know that every little bit helps.

And seriously, who doesn't want that sweatshirt?

HAVE YOU SPENT TIME IN FOSTER CARE?

Photo courtesy of www.fosterclub.com
 

Check out this awesome opportunity for youth who have spent time in foster care. This is a chance to have your voice heard and to help your brothers and sisters who are still in care. And think what it will add to your resume!

  

 

Please note the application deadline for FosterClub's All-Star internship is Friday, February 15th. FosterClub, the national network for youth in foster care, launched the All-Star program in 2004 and successfully incorporated current and former foster youth as facilitators and leaders of teen conference activities. The All-Stars were highly successful, proving wildly popular among teen conference attendees and providing a “real-life, been there-done that” perspective to FosterClub’s training programs. For the young people who serve as All-Stars, the opportunity has proven to be life-changing. Selected individuals will spend a portion of their summer living in Seaside, Oregon and traveling to various locations across the country to train and influence young people in foster care on a variety of topics pertaining to child welfare. To learn more or to apply visit: http://www.fosterclub.com/_allstars/article/all-star-application-details 

 

PHOTO CONTEST: WHAT FAMILY MEANS TO ME

Do you have a certain flair for taking photos?

Has someone told you that you take great family photos?

Well here's your chance to shine!

Enter our national photo contest, What Family Means to Me, and have your chance to win some awesome prizes and possibly have your photo seen by thousands on display at the Greater Rochester International Airport for one month.

The other great part?

Proceeds go to Children Awaiting Parents so we can help youth find loving, permanent homes!

Click here for more information and here to register.

HUMANITY MAKES YOU INFLUENTIAL

Josh Shipp

In 2010, I had the awesome opportunity to see an amazing young speaker by the name of Josh Shipp at the NACAC Conference (North American Council on Adoptable Children). Abandoned at birth and bouncing from foster home to foster home, he was abused, addicted and suicidal. But thanks to caring adults in his life, Josh was able to overcome his traumatic childhood and encourage others to do the same.

Now a motivational speaker endorsed by Harvard University, Josh has his own television program called Teen Trouble where he reaches out to the most troubled youth and shows them that life can be different.

Recently a guest on the The Jeff Probst Show, you can watch Jeff's interview with Josh about being a teen and growing up in foster care. I love, love, love the statement he makes about it only taking ONE caring adult to change the life of a youth and that humanity is what makes you influential.

(Click here to watch the 2nd and 3rd part of the feature.)

YOU KNOW I CRIED

Photo courtesy of NBC's Parenthood Facebook page

Some of you may have read my previous post about my obsession with Parenthood. It is such a good show and now that it's brought to light foster care adoption, it's definitely my favorite on-air program.

A few weeks ago, they aired an episode where Julia, pre-adoptive mother, struggles with whether or not she can adopt Victor. Many adoption professionals will tell you that it's perfectly normal to have feelings of insecurity or doubt when looking to adopt a child from the foster care system.

Can I do this?

Will the child love me?

Can I accept this child as my own?

Will I be able to advocate for my child?

Handle his/her needs?

Victor is showing affection to Julia's husband but is consistently disrespectful and unable to attach to Julia. Something so many of our families go through! Now, I realize that this is just a show but the issues brought up are real. Click here to watch the scene where Julia finally breaks down and admits to her brother that she's not sure she can commit to the adoption. 

 

So fast forward to this week where viewers got to experience Victor's adoption finalization. I can't express how great a job this show does in displaying real issues surrounding older child adoption. It's of course, still a show, and things get wrapped up all nice and pretty at the end but it's still so great at bringing our kids struggles to people's living rooms.

Here is a clip of Victor's adoption finalization. The entire family surrounds him in the judge's chambers and it's just beautiful.

ADOPTION TAX CREDIT EXTENDED!

Late Tuesday night, January 1, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8), legislation that included a permanent extension of the adoption tax credit. President Obama signed the bill into law Wednesday.

Since it was established in 1997, the adoption tax credit has helped thousands of American families offset the high cost of adoption or meet their adopted children’s special needs. The credit was set to virtually disappear as of December 31, 2012. Earlier this year, the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee established four priorities for an adoption tax credit that is inclusive, permanent, refundable, and flat for special needs adoptions.

"By making the adoption tax credit permanent, Congress has renewed its commitment to finding a safe and loving homes for children in need," said Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). CCAI serves as the Secretariat of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee. "We are thrilled that three of the four priorities established by the Executive Committee were included in this legislation. Unfortunately, without making the adoption tax credit refundable, many adoptive families of foster children with special needs will not be able to benefit from the credit."

The bill permanently extends the adoption tax credit and income exclusion for employer paid or reimbursed adoption expenses. While official estimates will be released later by the IRS, the projected maximum amount of the adoption credit for 2013 is expected to be $12,770.

The benefits of the adoption tax credit reach beyond the children who are adopted. A 2006 study cited by the Children’s Bureau found that taxpayers save as much as $126,000 for every child who is adopted instead of remaining in long-term foster care. Significant savings to society are also achieved because children who are adopted fare better than those who live out their childhood in foster care. With more than 100,000 children in U.S. foster care waiting to be adopted, and countless millions of children worldwide without families, the continuation of the adoption tax credit helps provide love, safety, and permanency to many of these children.

This was taken from:
http://adoptiontaxcreditdotorg.files.wordpress.com