The Wine Bistro

With two locations in the Columbus Metro area, The Wine Bistro is a warm, inviting restaurant and bar that has been quenching residents' thirst and hunger for many years.

Serving an extensive array of fine wines, beers and light dishes, The Wine Bistro is the perfect mix of charm and convenience. The Bistro's expert staff is always nearby to offer advice and information about the wines they serve and they make every visit a truly educational experience.

Visit one of The Wine Bistro locations and RSVP for our Autumn Wine Celebration today!

Save the Date!

Save the date for our Autumn Wine Celebration on Friday, October 21 at the beautiful Bluestone located downtown Columbus. This year's event will include wine tasting, deserts from 3 Babes and a Baker, live music and works of local glass artists. 

RSVP today and reserve your seat at NCALP's annual fundraiser.

Interracial Families in Friendship, Adoption Group

Siobhan Wolf Shafer
accepted the award on
behalf of the group. 

For the past 11 years, Interracial Families in Friendship has provided social interaction, support and community for adoptive families with African American children, biracial children and children from the African diaspora. The group’s monthly meetings are a vital resource for families in the Central Ohio area.

Congratulations to all of our Adoption Hero Award recipients and thank you for your hard work and dedication!

Angela Lariviere, Adoption/Foster Care Professional

Angela Lariviere is the founder and facilitator of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio’s Youth Empowerment Program. This program helps homeless youth become active community members and productive citizens through participation in community service, leadership training and advocacy activities.

Angela has played a crucial role in changing policies to allow teenagers in family shelters and she also assisted a local shelter in building a safer building with improved services for children and teens. She has partnered with national organizations to increase homeless education funding and participated in over 1,000 community services hours this year.

Angela’s passion stems from her own experience as a homeless youth. As an adult, she and her husband have served as guardians of multiple children, including their younger siblings, eight nieces and nephews and 10 other children. These youth lived with the Larivieres for periods of time ranging from two months to four years while they attended school, worked toward their GEDs or waited for housing, college or financial aid.

Check back at the end of the week to meet our final Adoption Hero Award recipient!

Dontell Higgins, Youth Hero

At eighteen years old, Dontell became involved with Children Services as a result of serious family issues. Despite these difficulties, Dontell thrived both academically and athletically.

A natural leader, Dontell was chosen to be the captain of his football team and received the Ohio Capital Conference scholar athlete award. Dontell also placed third in the 100 meter dash at the Division 1 state championship. Additionally, his 4x100 meter relay team finished in the top 10 at the outdoor nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina.

In 2010, Dontell graduated from Groveport Madison High School as an honor roll student with a 3.4 GPA.

He is currently enrolled at Kent State University and majoring in Actuarial Science. Dontell is also a member of Kent State’s track team and competes in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and the 4x100 meter relay.

He plans to graduate from college and someday represent the U.S. in the Olympics.

Check back next week to meet more of our Adoption Hero Award recipients.

Ray and Matt Lees, Adoption Advocates

Worthington residents, Ray and Matt Lees, are the adoptive fathers of eight children and are our first Adoption Hero Award recipients.

In addition to volunteering at their childrens' school and on the Worthington Estates PTA, the Lees continually support initiatives for children, especially those in Haiti.

In 2010, the Lees led an initiative to gather donations of peanut butter to send to those affected by the earthquake disaster in Haiti. They collected 669 jars of peanut butter -- and then the Lees family matched the donation.

Every year, the Lees also send beanie babies to the Becky DeWine School in Cite Soleil, Haiti. Over the years, the Lees have donated over 3,000 beanie babies.

For more information on the Lees, take a look this article from the New York Times.

Check back tomorrow to meet our next Adoption Hero Award recipient!

Adoption Heroes

As a part of our Forever Home Adoption Celebration, we presented the Adoption Hero Award to outstanding Central Ohio groups and individuals who are involved with adoption and child advocacy. 

The Adoption Hero Award was created to recognize the achievements and contributions of the adoption and foster care community.

We are continually impressed with the dedication, innovation and enthusiasm displayed by adoption professionals, advocates and groups, as well as children who were adopted or in foster care. It is our hope that the achievements of our 2011 award recipients will inspire others to actively work to make a difference in the life of a child.

Check back during the next few weeks to meet our Adoption Hero Award Recipients!