About Us

 

Our

Mission

Protection, Education, and Support for Women Considering Adoption

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AdoptMatch is part of Ethical Family Building, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting ethical standards in domestic adoption. 

We educate expectant mothers about adoption and connect them to a community of licensed, ethical, and compassionate adoption providers and their waiting adoptive families. 

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AdoptMatch was founded in 2018 by adoption attorneys Celeste Liversidge and Jill Cucullu in response to the myriad ethical problems in the domestic adoption industry, including predatory and illegal advertising practices, unlicensed adoption providers, exorbitant fees, and a lack of support for birth mothers and adoptees after adoption.

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Our Vision

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Educate expectant mothers on their adoption and connect them with local, ethical adoption professionals who will help them get support and find the right adoptive family.

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Give hopeful adoptive parents a place to find the best adoption professionals when beginning their adoption journey.

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Be a resource for medical providers, mental health professionals, and community-based organizations looking for trustworthy and expert adoption help for their patients and clients.

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Build a nationwide community of licensed, experienced, and ethical adoption professionals committed to AdoptMatch’s Guiding Principles.

Our People

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Celeste Liversidge

Co-Founder/CEO/Attorney

Celeste’s advocacy for vulnerable populations first started during law school while working with victims of domestic violence and women facing the hardships of an unintended pregnancy.

Throughout her 23 year career as an adoption attorney, Celeste's commitment to families and children has extended beyond her professional work as she has proudly served as an adjunct professor and member of several nonprofit boards.

Celeste is grateful for the privilege of watching AdoptMatch evolve from idea to reality and energized by the opportunity to help bring positive change to the adoption industry.

When not immersed in her work, Celeste finds joy in running and hanging around at home with her husband, three daughters, and dog named Mo.

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Jill Cucullu

Co-Founder/Director of Compliance/Attorney

Jill began her legal career advocating for underserved populations as the founding director of Union Rescue Mission's Legal Aid Clinic in Downtown Los Angeles. Her love for children led to her own brood of six (adopted and biological), as well as into the practice of adoption law.

Jill is an innovative thought leader who views AdoptMatch's mission to promote ethical adoption and to empower birth and adoptive parents, as a further expression of her ongoing quest to improve the lives of children.

She's also usually up for just about anything happening outdoors in Southern California, especially if kids, dirt, or good food is involved.

 

Matt

Matt Kessler

Operations

A midwest native, Matt attended college at Gustavus Adolphus College and went on to earn his law degree from Cardiff University in Wales.

Matt's work in adoption law and with AdoptMatch has given him a unique understanding of some of the complex challenges facing domestic adoption and a passion to create solutions that work.

In addition to being a gifted problem solver, Matt is an avid hiker, dog lover, and part-time philosopher.

 

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Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard

Policy & Advocacy

Kelsey  has spent the past several years working in the adoption field as a paralegal and case manager for adoption agencies. Her experience within the adoption community has given her a unique understanding of many of the challenges facing domestic adoption.

Kelsey is also a birth mother in an open adoption and tireless advocate for safe, ethical, child-centered adoptions. 

She is grateful for the opportunity to work with AdoptMatch & AdoptChange on important public policy issues impacting all members of the adoption triad.

Kim

Kimberly Givens

Customer Support

Kim is a devoted wife to her college sweetheart, California native, and mother to four children, biological and adopted.

For as long as she can remember, Kim has been passionate about the importance of finding loving homes for children who need them. Through her work with AdoptMatch, Kim seeks to empower expectant mothers and adopting parents by promoting  ethical, safe, and supported adoptions. 

In her rare moments of free time, Kim enjoys yoga, and all things related to natural healing and wellness (translation: Kim is a health nut!).

Emily

Emily Rodriguez

Creative Consultant/Graphic Designer

Emily’s heart of compassion was sparked during middle school when she observed the "not-so-cool" girls being excluded by the "cool, but not-that-nice” ones, and grew deeper when facing the loneliness and uncertainty of an unintended pregnancy, years later. Emily's hope is that women facing unplanned pregnancies can be met with compassion, honesty, and support—no matter option they choose.

A lover of all things creative, you can usually find Emily outdoors, or hard at work in a good coffee shop with classic British pop rock playing in her earbuds.

 

Non-Discrimination

The services of AdoptMatch are available to all people regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, disability, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.