United In Love Adoptions (UILA) is a faith-based nonprofit organization based in St. Cloud that supports birth mothers and adoptive parents on their adoption journey. Founded by St. Cloud attorney Barbara “BJ” Harris of HBH Law, the organization hosted its fifth annual “Mimosas for a Mission” fundraiser on Saturday. e event was held at the Barney E. Veal Event Center on the Osceola Council on Aging campus in Kissimmee.
The fundraiser included brunch, mimosas, rousing rounds of Bingo with designer purse prizes, a silent auction, and raffle drawings throughout the event.
“This is our second year at the Barney Veal Center, and we have over 135 people attending,” said Amy Van Riper, Executive Director of UILA.
The Whitman Trust was the title sponsor, along with Land Title Professionals and AeroStar Aviation from Kissimmee Airport, as major sponsors as well. In all, there were over thirty table and network sponsors and silent auction donors.
“My brother was always for the underdog, so that is right in line with the work of UILA,” said Kathy Blankenship, President and CEO of the Whitman Trust, and sister to Gerry Whitman, now deceased, for whom the trust is named.
Proceeds from the fundraiser go to supporting the emergency stabilization fund for birth mothers, ensuring they receive the care and assistance they need.
“We support the needs of birth mothers throughout their pregnancy, until they can be matched with the adoptive parents, including women who are in addiction, and also those who are homeless,” said Karlyn Ivey, who has been the Birth Mother Coordinator for UILA since April of this year.
For more information about United In Love Adoptions, see https://bit.ly/4raoiso.
