Fifth Third Bank To Spotlight the Work of The Cradle Foundation at First Look for Charity Event

CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, February 7, Fifth Third Bank will enjoy status as Grand Benefactor of the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity before the city's elite, who will gather at the single largest one-day fundraising event, benefiting 18 charities with over $2 million.

"We are pleased to again serve as Grand Benefactor of the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity," said Robert A. Sullivan, president & CEO, Fifth Third Bank (Chicago).  "To be part of an event that raises money to benefit nonprofit organizations that positively impact many lives throughout the Chicagoland area is inspired." 

The bank will gift an unrestricted $10,000 grant to The Cradle Foundation.  These unrestricted funds will provide for partial underwriting of fees for African American parents to adopt.  Forty to 50 percent of babies who come into Cradle care are African American or multiracial.  However, fewer than 10 percent of adoptive parents are African American. The Cradle is the only Illinois adoption resource with specific outreach to the African American community through the Ardythe and Gale Sayers Center for African American Adoption, whose mission is to educate about adoption in general and, ultimately, to recruit more African Americans as adoptive parents.  Sayers Center outreach focuses on local churches, African American community business leaders and social and professional organizations.  A unique role of The Sayers Center is to provide a large network of ongoing support to all families who have African American or multiracial children, as well as opportunities to meet other families.  Inclusive of white parents of black children, The Sayers Center provides an environment of cultural understanding and connectivity. 

In order to meet its goal of offering African American birth parents the same level of choice for same race placement their Caucasian counterparts have, The Cradle subsidizes half of the adoption fee for African American parents through private contributions, such as Fifth Third Bank's unrestricted grant.

The Sayers Center is committed to strengthening African American families and communities by reducing barriers to adoption and giving African American birth parents more choice in placing their baby. Through The Cradle's "Finding Families for Children" initiative, fees are reduced and supported by private contributions for Sayers Center adoptive parents, those who adopt babies with special needs, and families that adopt biological siblings.  The Cradle's bottom line, mission and passion is always to do what is best for the child.

"We are grateful to Fifth Third Bank and all of its employees for this grant," said Brooke Voss, President of The Cradle Foundation.  "These dollars will help us make a difference in the lives of many children waiting to be adopted."

Tickets are available to attend First Look and benefit The Cradle Foundation.  Contact Molly Isbell, (847) 733-3234 for more details.

Media Contact: Andrew Hayes, 312-823-4333

SOURCE Fifth Third Bank (Chicago)