Donna K. Evans Program
Supporting Women After Adoption Placement
Our Mission
The Donna K. Evans Foundation has a mission of helping women after placing a baby for private adoption. Our goal is to provide women a safe place to return for help to reach their own life goals and dreams after private placement of their baby for adoption. Any woman who has placed a baby for adoption, regardless of the agency used for their adoption may utilize our services, at any time after the adoptive placement.
Adoption matters to us. We understand and value all aspects of the adoption triad: the birth mother, the baby and the adoptive parents. This foundation specifically focuses on you, the birth mother, and helping you fulfill your dreams.
About The DKE Program
Kelly Rourke was placed for a private adoption by her birth mother, Donna K. Evans. Donna was sixteen years old at the time of Kelly’s birth. Donna did not receive any post placement services after the adoption and went on to live a life that did not reflect her full potential. Kelly was able to reunite with her birth mother for ten years prior to her mother’s premature death. After seeing the aftermath of her mother and working with birth mothers for the past 14 years, the need for these services was undeniable. This foundation was built in loving memory of Donna K. Evans.
Who Was Donna K. Evans?
Donna K. Evans was born September 2, 1956. She was the seventh child of nine to Imogene and William Evans. On January 14, 1973, at just 16 years old, she gave birth to her first child and chose to place her baby girl for adoption. Donna found out she was pregnant three weeks before she delivered. Donna was not given an opportunity to even see her baby girl to say goodbye.
Donna struggled with her adoption choice, having not had any assistance or support. The adoption of her first child was kept a family secret and the added weight took its toll. Donna could not bear the thought of placing another child for adoption and went on to have two more children; a boy she delivered on her eighteenth birthday and then, another boy two and a half years later.
Donna never graduated from high school. She dropped out two months after she delivered her daughter and ran away to her hometown in West Virginia. She was married and had her first son on her 18th birthday. She worked in a fast food restaurant and cleaned houses to try and make ends meet. With the addition of her second son, her marriage began to struggle ending in divorce. She would go on to remarry and divorce again and again.
Donna lost many of her siblings at an early age to various causes: murder, Agent Orange, a brain aneurysm, and stomach cancer. All of this trauma and loss added to her internal struggle with depression and anxiety. She went on disability and stayed at home, took care of her husband, and watched her sons grow into men. Donna’s favorite things to do were to watch television and take naps.
The baby girl she delivered in 1973 found Donna in 2007. Donna had tried searching for her daughter by contacting “Unsolved Mysteries” and tried to do some of her own research to locate her daughter. Donna, ultimately, filed the papers with the court allowing the adoption paperwork to be opened leading to her daughter connecting with her. After reuniting with her baby girl, who was now in her thirties, they became very close; talking on the phone daily and visiting frequently.
Donna’s health began to decline as time passed. She smoked daily. She went into the hospital in early May 2016 thinking she had a bad cold, which turned out to be pneumonia and a lung abscess. Her health continued to decline, and she never left the hospital.
Donna passed away on June 13, 2016 with her husband by her side. She will be forever missed.
Media About The Donna K. Evans Program
Friends Of The Donna K. Evans Program
- Simpson Law Firm
- Hawley & Associates
- G&S Gravel
- The Pillar Hotel Group
- Bruce and Lucy Goodwin
- Wells Fargo
- Gatorade
- The Refinery
- Isaiah Oliver of the Atlanta Falcons
Get Involved
This program is strictly non-profit. We receive funds to support this amazing program on donations. Please feel free to make a donation to help support this program and let women know they matter. We always accept the following donations:
- Money (check, money order or PayPal)
- Non-perishable food, grocery gift cards
- Fast food gift cards
- Hotel Stay vouchers (one night)
- Clothing and clothing store gift cards
- Hygiene and personal items
In 2020, we will continue to build upon our birth mother client services program with a focus on providing access to group counseling, life skills classes and workshops, social services support, employment, housing and education.
No gift is too big or too small. If you would like to donate with a gift or money, 100% of your generous donation benefits the birth mothers and their futures.
We thank you for your consideration of these strong, selfless women – whose tremendous sacrifice and courage to make an adoption plan for their child deserves our ongoing encouragement and support so she can gain her wings and fly toward her dreams.
Donate Via PayPal NowYour donation provides direct assistance.
$1000+ Helps pay tuition for education and career training courses
$500+ Provides up to “x amount” of therapy sessions
$250+ Buys course materials (books, subsidized PCs) and/or attire for career training and job placement
$100+ Provides Emergency Housing resources
$50+ Buys a bus pass for a month
Under $50 Provides non-perishable food, clothing, hygiene, GED study guides, etc.
Donate Via PayPal NowWhether you give $25 a month or $250, your donation creates opportunities for birth mothers to gain the vital support needed to help her heal, grow, and thrive through access to life-changing resources. No matter how big or small, your donation consistently empowers women to see their adoption choice as a brave and selfless choice.
Donate Via PayPal Now