Spaulding for Children looks to the future as “Arms Wide Adoption Services”
Longtime mission of fulfilling families continues with new Arms Wide Adoption Services name at 40 Years of Families Luncheon
Looking to convey a warmer and more accurate description of their mission and focus, Spaulding for Children is rebranding with the new name of Arms Wide Adoption Services.
Tany Jeter, Klaes, Frank Billingsly, Robin Klaes
Event chairs Robin Klaes and Tany Jeter Klaes served up a surprise to guests of Spaulding for Children’s 40 Years of Families luncheon as attendees were among the first to hear a major announcement for the future of organization.
The news was unveiled via a video presentation which began by highlighting the challenging statistics for children in foster care before illustrating the dedication and successes of Spaulding for Children. The video ended with the statement, “Wherever their lives lead, we are there to guide, support, celebrate and make the family whole. We are…Arms Wide Adoption Services. Fulfilling Families.”
The name change is part of the organization’s 40 year anniversary celebration, and an exciting effort to increase awareness of the group’s services and successes.
The name change also will further their ability to assist even more children and families throughout Houston and South Texas.
The organization’s focus centers around locating permanent homes for children in foster care, including those more difficult to place, such as older children or siblings wishing to be adopted together. 
Despite decades of success guiding and supporting these children and adoptive families through the often long journey through foster care to forever homes, it was felt the community has not always made that connection to the Spaulding for Children name.
Crafting a more descriptive name is an effort to make it easier for prospective families and those in the adoption services industry to find the organization, understand all they do and access their services.
“We are incredibly proud of our 40 years as Spaulding for Children,” said Vikki Finley, President and CEO of Arms Wide Adoption Services. “We have been a witness to so much love and joy while helping these children find their place with incredible families. We are committed to continuing that exact same work and thrilled to do so with a name that clearly expresses and embraces our mission.”
The new website for Arms Wide Open can be found at www.armswide.org. Arms Wide Adoption Services will continue Spaulding for Children’s work with the same staff and process on which they have built their reputation as a credible and compassionate resource.
Keynote speaker, Frank Billingsley, KPRC 2’s Chief Meteorologist, whose life has been personally touched by adoption shared his story and his book at the event.
The 40th anniversary luncheon raised more than $102,000 in support of the organization, which will help the newly re-named Arms Wide Adoption Services to connect more of the nearly 6,000 children eligible for adoption in the foster care system with a family.