Kids to Love’s private adoption service is a full-circle moment for Lee Marshall

November is National Adoption Month and Kids to Love is celebrating with some BIG news. We are proud to announce we are now a Private Adoption Agency. And for CEO & Founder Lee Marshall, it’s a full circle moment in life.

Lee was born into foster care at the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, where her birth mom had her and gave her up for adoption.

“She never held me,” Lee said. “At 6 weeks old I was placed with my parents, who would officially adopt me by the time I was 2 years old — so foster care and adoption has always had a special place in my heart.”

Who would have known this baby would one day spearhead a movement for thousands of children living in foster care? It all started in 2003 with Lee and her father gathering school supplies for children in her garage. Then they took on Christmas

“There was a message at church on a Sunday that was talking about identifying your mission’s boat… but get in your boat.”

Lee’s ship has been sailing strong. Kids to Love now has 15 established programs for foster children. Education has always been an important part of what Kids to Love does.

“Education has always been very important to me; the gateway for kids to get out of foster care,” Lee said. “Poverty is why they are there. Education is their way out.”

Since 2004, More than 78,000 backpacks have been packed with school supplies for children in care. Since 2005, 17,000 Christmas wish lists have been filled, and 950 scholarships given out.

Kids to Love’s workforce initiatve, KTECH, has delivered 300 certifications to its students.

Since 2017, 29 girls have lived at Davidson Farms, Kids to Love’s home for girls ages 7-19. Three were recently adopted. And just this year, the Whitaker Cottage Community opened its doors at the Farm to girls aging out of the foster care system.

Since 2021, 28 children have been matched with new foster families through the Child Placing Agency, which Lee considers the biggest impact-maker Kids to Love has started. And now, with the ability to facilitate private adoptions, Lee’s story has come full circle.

“We are so excited as we end our 18th year of service and closing in on making a direct impact on more than 300,000 children living in foster care, which is humbling and sobering and overwhelming — to know what I feel is our greatest work is we are just getting started on, which is to help every child have a forever family, so they can experience what I have experienced through the love of adoption.”

Kids to Love’s Child Placing Agency staff each have over 20 years of experience working with birth parents and adoptive families. For more information visit our Private Adoption page.