Who We Are
Wednesday's Child & WLKY-TV: A Lasting Partnership
Wednesday’s Child was founded in 1980 by WLKY-TV, the CBS affiliate in Louisville, KY, under the leadership of News Director Tom Becherer. With the help of anchorwoman Liz Everman, WLKY began producing news segments featuring Kentucky children in foster care who were waiting for adoption. Every Wednesday, a new child (or sibling group) was introduced, along with information on how to pursue adoption. The overwhelming response from the community, including monetary donations to support these children, led to the creation of an independent 501(c)(3) organization, with an executive director and board of directors dedicated to overseeing the program full-time.
WLKY continues to be an integral partner in Wednesday’s Child’s mission. The station serves as the media arm of the organization, providing invaluable broadcast and digital resources to promote Wednesday’s Child events and fundraisers. In addition to regularly airing features on youth awaiting adoption, WLKY hosts an annual one-hour Adopt-a-thon Special in early December. This televised event raises funds, shares successful adoption stories, and features experts who provide guidance on fostering and adoption.
A WLKY representative continues to serve on the Wednesday’s Child Board of Directors, ensuring a strong and active partnership. This relationship allows for continuous collaboration on media strategies, community outreach, and awareness-building efforts that support older foster youth in Kentucky.
Together, WLKY and Wednesday's Child remain committed to ensuring that "There are no unadoptable children, just unfound families."
A Legacy of Impact
Wednesday’s Child segments first aired in 1980 as part of WLKY News to raise awareness about children in Kentucky’s Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP), now known as the Kentucky Adoption Profile Exchange (KAPE). Many of these children face challenges in finding adoptive families due to past experiences of abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Their parental rights had been terminated, making them legally free for adoption but in need of a permanent, loving home.
Liz Everman, who led the on-air efforts for more than 30 years, played a pivotal role in expanding Wednesday’s Child’s impact. Due to the success of WLKY’s initiative, hundreds of television stations across the country adopted similar models to promote adoption awareness. However, these efforts are independent, and there is no national Wednesday’s Child program.
An Independent Nonprofit with WLKY’s Support
While Wednesday’s Child, Inc. was initially founded through WLKY, it is now an independent, volunteer-driven organization funded by private donors, corporate sponsors, grants, and fundraising initiatives. Liz Everman remains deeply connected to the mission as Chairman Emeritus of Wednesday’s Child, Inc.
Today, WLKY-TV continues to amplify Wednesday’s Child’s reach, not only through television segments but also via digital media, social platforms, and streaming services. This expanded digital presence allows Wednesday’s Child to engage a wider audience, connect with potential adoptive families, and share the stories of foster youth in need of forever homes.
Wednesday’s Child has won more than 45 awards, including the Adoptive Exchange Association Award for best segment of its kind in the country.
Your financial and volunteer support of the Wednesday’s Child program, a primarily volunteer-driven 501 c3 charitable non-profit, is welcomed and very much appreciated. Funds raised are used to further our mission in connecting abused and neglected children to their forever families.
WLKY is a recipient of the prestigious National Broadcaster’s Association Service to Children Award.
Our mission is to recruit and support foster and adoptive parents for children in state care, provide assistance to adoptive families, and equip youth who are waiting for adoption or transitioning to independent living
DONATIONS PAYABLE:
Wednesday’s Child
P.O. Box 34428 Louisville, KY 40232Text adoptky to 44321
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