Connect How did your love story begin?

We met in our junior year of college at SUNY Albany through mutual friends. As two Psychology majors, we realized we shared classes and started going together. What began as a friendship became a love that has seen us through all the obstacles that our life together as presented. We look forward to 35 more years of growing as a couple, as well as, watching our son continue to thrive as the sensitive, caring and bright young man that he is today.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

The most rewarding time of our life together is when we were foster parents with The House of the Good Shepherd in Utica, NY. As biological children were not in the cards for us, we welcomed children as young as 4 days old to 17. Unquestionably, our most favorite memory as a couple was when we adopted our foster child, Lucas, on National Adoption Day in 2012 to become an always and forever family. Lucas, now age of 15, aspires to become an avian veterinarian. We have 5 parakeet grandbirds.

What would you do with $20,000?

Our goal as our boy’s parents is to set him up for financial success by repairing our 1929 home for him to inherit. At 15 years old, he tells us repeatedly that he wants to live in our home forever. We would love to add the 20k to our fund for updating our home’s electrical system and metal roof. We want our boy to have a future home that will be comfortable, updated, and most importantly, one filled with memories that will remain with him for a lifetime.