C.A.S.E. Gala 2025 Program

Inspired by Donna’s grandparents who were foster and adoptive parents many years ago. Arnold and Donna embarked on their own foster parenting journey. As the new century dawned and wanting to give back as they had seen so beautifully modeled, they embarked on a new adventure with their two biological daughters aged 3 and 6. As a newly licensed foster family, a sibling group of 5 children 6 and under joined their family. A family of 4 became a family of 9 and remained that way for 13 months. Those months of sacrifice and loving opened the door to another 22 years of foster care with over 150 children gracing their home.

As the years progressed, they adopted 4 of those children from foster care. An unexpected journey that took them deep into their motivations, understandings and passions to be parents. As they encountered uncharted behaviors due to unknown trauma they reached out to Debbie and C.A.S.E. to assist them in understanding the behaviors and opening the door to the world of feelings and motivations locked away in the children they adopted.

Over the years they have worked with two different therapists at C.A.S.E. who have focused on different parts of their children’s identity journey. They are grateful for the work with them and the wealth of knowledge that they have been able to share not only with their children but with them as parents. They are honored to continue their heritage of adoption as they celebrate the addition of their grandson. Anchored by the foundation of those who walked before, strengthened and supported by those who walk with them and honored to support and guide others in the future.

Kerrie and Kailah became certified foster parents in 2018, opening their Baltimore home and hearts to a sweet baby boy. After living with them full-time for three years, he was reunified with his biological family and officially became their god son. While their hearts were still full, the house was empty most days of the week.

They joined AdoptUSKids and connected with a DC-based placement specialist who introduced them to a very special nine-year old. They had their first meeting at a playground and discussed which animals could successfully run a restaurant. A few months later he moved in and about a year and a half after that his adoption was finalized. As a family, they enjoy audio books, board games, and playing with their dog and cats.

Kailah and Kerrie are beyond grateful for their C.A.S.E. therapist, Regi Corbi, for both family and couples therapy, as well as psychoeducation about adoption and adoptees. They attended their first KAN conference the weekend after their adoption was finalized. They are grateful to have a rich community of chosen family, many of whom have also experienced foster care and adoption.

Kerrie is the CEO and founder of Equip Advisory, a financial advising firm that builds intergenerational wealth for queer, trans, and BIPOC families. Kailah is a learning designer who has worked in sexual violence, human trafficking, and child welfare. Their kids enjoy drawing, math, anime, reading, martial arts, and soccer.

Yelena’s story began in Stavropol, Russia, where she lived in a children’s orphanage for two and a half years before she was adopted. Prior to that she lived with her Russian family. She was adopted in 2002 when she was 7 years old. She came to Maryland on a summer program and it was there that she met her forever family. Nine months later, her parents and brother flew to Russia to bring her home.

After her adoption, her parents were able to identify Yelena’s challenges and special needs. She attended Kingbury School and Katherine Thomas School where she graduated with a degree. Yelena received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Obama for her exemplary community service hours and a Certificate of Meritorious Service from Montgomery County Schools in 2015. Yelena is a gifted athlete and she and her team received a Gold Medal in Special Olympics Basketball in Seattle, Washington, in 2018. She also received a certificate from Montgomery College in the Graduate Transition Program in 2017.

Yelena has received services from C.A.S.E. for over 14 years since she attended KAN, the Kids Adopted Network Conference where she first met Debbie Riley. As long as she can remember, Yelena has had anxiety. Her anxiety began in Russia but was diagnosed here as she began to understand the fearful situations she was put in by her family and at the orphanage. It was not an easy transition coming to a totally new country with a new language. C.A.S.E. has helped Yelena address her triggers and use anxiety reducing strategies in everyday life.

Yelena has had various successful internships and jobs during and since high school in restaurants and supermarkets. She loves working with people and has a wonderful sense of humor and customer service skills. She now works at Wegmans.

When she is not working, she loves to hang out with her friends, watch The Big Bang theory and Friends tv show, and creates art, some of which she sells. She participates in Visarts Visibility Lab program in Rockville and loves it. She also volunteers once a week at Comfort Cases in Gaithersburg, filling backpacks for foster children as well as the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, organizing donations for needy families.

Yelena lives in her own apartment at Mainstreet in Rockville, where she participates in many activities in this inclusive apartment building with a community center for adults of all abilities.

Yelena is always proud to say she is adopted as it is an important part of her story.

Developed in 2020, the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board work closely with the C.A.S.E. Board of Directors and staff to enhance the organization’s local and national presence in the adoption, foster and kinship care communities.

They offer advice and recommendations to the organization, while also participating in public speaking, advocacy, and special fundraising events. While the council members are dedicated to their current role at C.A.S.E., they work with the intent to eventually assume leadership roles within the organization.

This evening members of our Emerging Leaders Advisory Board will share their stories and passion for our cause.

The generous donations of C.A.S.E.’s philanthropic community provides the ability to offer a sliding fee discount to families each year who do not qualify for grants but are unable to afford the full fee for our services. Please consider making a donation this evening so we can continue offering financial support to families in need.

Debbie B. Riley, LCMFT, is C.A.S.E.’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer.

Debbie earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and her Bachelor’s Degree in Family Studies from the University of Maryland. Since C.A.S.E.’s inception in 1998, Debbie has grown the organization into a national and international mental health resource for foster and adoptive families as well as for the professionals who support them.

Among her many professional accomplishments is her co-authoring of the book, Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens. Debbie also founded the TAC (Training for Adoption Competency Curriculum) currently taught in 17 states across the country. Through a federal five-year grant awarded to C.A.S.E. from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Debbie serves as the Principal Investigator to establish a National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI), created to build the adoption competency capacity of child welfare professionals and mental health practitioners that serve youth moving toward permanency as well as youth living in permanent adoptive or guardianship homes.

Debbie is proud recipient of the Children’s Bureau 2015 Adoption Excellence Award nominated by Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. In 2024, Debbie was inducted into the National Adoption Hall of Fame. Debbie’s unwavering commitment to providing resources, support and advocacy for children, teens and family members touched by adoption and foster care is in itself extraordinary.