North Ridgeville woman to receive Triad Advocate Award

A North Ridgeville resident will be honored Nov. 17 when Adoption Network Cleveland hosts its 30th anniversary meeting.

Linda Bellini, now a volunteer with Adoption Network, retired from the company three years ago after working there for 13 ½ years as a program coordinator for adult adoptees and birthparents. She will be receiving the Adoption Triad Advocate Award, according to a news release.

Bellini now volunteers in a support group that works with anyone who may be interested or has dealt with issues of adoption. She said she listens to participants’ stories or experiences with adoptions.

Linda Schellentrager, communications manager of Adoption Network, said that Bellini’s positive energy and continued work ethic for those with an adoption connection, even through her retirement, has been a gift to all who know or have been supported by her. Schellentrager said she won this award due to her efforts during her employment and then her volunteer work.

“I was surprised when (the company) notified me, telling me that I received the award,” said Bellini. “It’s a special honor and really is humbling because part of the reason I’m getting this award is because of all the people I’ve encountered over the past three years.

“People who are on this journey (with adoption) need the guidance sometimes whether is ends out as a blessing or sometimes difficult,” she added. “To walk with these people who have dealt with adoption, it has been awarding and a privilege to have them open their personal lives to me.”

Bellini said she works with adoptees and birth parents who want to connect with their children, or even children who are learning to comprehend and find out where they came from.

“It’s great to see families go through this and know that they don’t go through this alone,” she said. “There are people who want to meet their children just to know that they’ve had a good life (with their adopted families). It’s great to hear their own personal stories of adoption and knowing how thankful they are to have a safe place to speak with us. It’s been life-changing for me, I can’t express enough gratitude.”

According to Adoption Network Cleveland, the Adoption Triad Advocate Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the adoption field as demonstrated by a specific accomplishment, project, program or milestone, meeting one or more of the following criteria: contributed through exceptional volunteer efforts, influenced the wider community through their advocacy and outreach efforts, improved the lives of individual children and teens waiting for adoption and enhanced the experiences adoption triad members by providing information, advocacy, or other support.

The annual meeting program will also include an Adoption Network Cleveland’s 2017 Year in Review and a presentation of the 2017 Founder’s Award to a volunteer who exemplifies the values of Adoption Network Cleveland.

The other Triad Advocate of the Year awards are going to: Andrea Ginter, a Willowick resident who is a post adoption/subsidy supervisor with the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Services; and Amanda Reno, a genetic genealogist who resides in Baltimore, Ohio.

The Founder’s Award winner is Sherri Appleton, an interior designer who resides in Cleveland Heights.

According to the news release, the meeting will feature current state Rep. and former Adoption Network employee Sarah LaTourette as its keynote presenter. She will share her journey in becoming a legislator and ways she is using what she learned at Adoption Network Cleveland in her leadership position in the Ohio House of Representatives.

The annual meeting and award ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Room, second floor, 1801 Superior Ave. in Cleveland.

Bellini