Adoption agency expands to Pinellas

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 5, 2000

LARGO -- A 15-year-old non-profit adoption agency based in the Northeast has expanded to Florida and opened a branch in Pinellas County.

New Beginnings Family and Children's Services, led by Barbara Graffeo, specializes in placing children from Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Peru and Russia. Mrs. Graffeo established the agency in 1985 in Mineola, N.Y., and opened a second office six years ago in Matamoras, Pa.

Mrs. Graffeo, an adopted child herself, said she became interested in placing children after she and her husband adopted five children from Thailand, Vietnam and Korea. "We tried to have children, so we adopted five times," she said. "It was a wonderful experience" she said of the children, who are now young adults. She and her husband, Tony, who is a non-commissioned officer in the Army, moved to Seminole earlier this year from Long Island, N.Y., when he was transferred to a base in Orlando.

Most of the children range from infants to 8 years old, she said. But she said the agency has placed children up to 16 years old.

"We work with the governments or government-controlled agencies in those countries," she said. "Since starting the agency, we have placed 2,000 children."

New Beginnings, in the Plaza Center at 1301 Seminole Blvd., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mrs. Graffeo gives a free seminar at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month on the steps involved in adoption. An open house is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 9. Call 584-5262.

Abilities of Florida hires fundraiser

Abilities of Florida has hired Deborah Siladie as a special events fundraiser for the organization's marketing, communications and development division.

She most recently was president and owner of Tickets Unlimited discount ticket business. Before that, she was director of group and corporate sales for the Mahaffey Theater Foundation in St. Petersburg. She has a fine arts degree from the University of South Florida.

Abilities of Florida, at 2735 Whitney Road, Clearwater, is a private, non-profit, charitable organization that provides vocational evaluation, skills training, assisted living and job placement services to people throughout the state with disabilities.

Bay Area Women's Care receives accreditation

Bay Area Women's Care clinics, at 1055 S Fort Harrison Ave. and 2753 State Road 580, Clearwater, have received accreditation for obstetrical and gynecological ultrasound practice for three years from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

The practice includes Drs. David O. Peterfreund, Patricia A. St. John, Jeffery E. Jensen, Gregory L. Todd and Michael A. Dawson.

Lawyer achievements

Robert J. McDermott has received board certification in wills, trusts and estate law. He has been board certified for many years in civil trial law. McDermott, who received his law degree in 1952 from the University of Florida, is authorized to practice in the federal district courts, the U.S. Supreme Court and all Florida courts. His practice is at 101 N Clearwater-Largo Road, Largo.

Alison K. Freeborn of Freeborn & Freeborn, 360 Monroe St., Dunedin, has been accepted in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, an association concerned with the availability and delivery of legal services to the elderly. Formed in 1987, the Tucson, Ariz., academy has more than 3,000 members in 50 states.

Builder/Realtor expo planned for Sept. 28

The Contractors & Builders Association of Pinellas County and the Greater Clearwater Association of Realtors are sponsoring a Builder/Realtor Expo Sept. 28 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The event is to feature a builder-broker cooperation course from noon to 4 p.m. and a Meet the Builder Expo from 4 to 7 p.m. The course is $35 a person and includes a manual. The expo is free and includes refreshments. Call 545-5536 for more information.

- News of businesses and business people can be faxed to the Business Digest at 445-4119 or mailed to Business Digest, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. We are interested in new and unusual businesses, promotions, expansions and major new contracts. Photos can be sent, but not all will be used and they cannot be returned.

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