chicago | miami | san antonio - family source surrogacy ......five years ago, surrogacy for gay men...

2017Media Kit

CH ICAGO | M IAMI | SAN ANTONIO

FAMILY SOURCE CONSULTANTS

[email protected]

200 W. Madison, Ste. 2100

Chicago, IL 60606

(312) 277-4008

BUILDING FAMILIES THROUGH GESTATIONAL SURROGACY & EGG DONATION


PAGE 1WWW.FAMILYSOURCESURROGACY.COM

Family Source Consul tants ’ home of f ice is based in Chicago, IL wi th addi t ional of f ices in San Antonio, TX, and Miami, FL.

We match and faci l i ta te Gestat ional Surrogacy and Egg Donat ion arrangements, working wi th t radi t ional , gay or lesbian couples and indiv iduals of a l l races, re l igious and ethnic backgrounds.

As members of ASRM (The America Socie ty of Reproduct ive Medicine and RESOLVE (The Nat ional Infer t i l i ty Associat ion), we are third par ty reproduct ion exper ts who have a deep passion for ass is t ing others in their fami ly bui lding endeavors.

I t i s our miss ion at Fami ly Source to al leviate the pressures al l par t ies are facing and to help make the fami ly bui lding experience posi t ive and fu l f i l l ing for ever yone involved.

About Family Source Consultants



Zara Griswold, Co-FounderWhen my husband and I began our own Surrogacy journey in 2002, I had known for qui te a whi le that I would never bear chi ldren. I had a complete hys terectomy due to ovarian cancer in 1994, when I was 23 years o ld, so I had put much thought in to the way I would ever become a mother over th is per iod of t ime. We considered adopt ion and at tended a couple of adopt ion or ientat ions; however, the concept of th ird par ty reproduct ion was foreign to us and i t was, on many levels ,

rather overwhelming. St i l l , once we learned Surrogacy and Egg Donat ion were real is t ic opt ions af ter a l l , we real ized we had found our solu t ion.

We matched wi th a wonder fu l and dedicated Gestat ional Surrogate in the spr ing of 2002 and welcomed our beaut i fu l boy/gir l twins in to our arms the fo l lowing summer, June 2, 2003. No words can descr ibe our level of joy and fu l f i l lment on this miraculous day.

I have a Bachelor of Ar ts degree in Engl ish from Eastern Michigan Univers i ty and a Master of Science degree in Educat ion from Nor thern I l l inois Univers i ty, as I was a High School Engl ish teacher before our chi ldren were born. My passion for educat ing and suppor t ing others, a long wi th my personal in teres t in Surrogacy and Egg Donat ion, is what inspired me to wri te the book, Surrogacy Was the Way: Twenty In tended Mothers Tel l Their Stor ies , publ ished in 2006.

I have been for tunate in being able to cont inue my dedicat ion to Fami ly Bui lding via Third Par ty Reproduct ion in my posi t ion as Director of the Gestat ional Surrogacy program here at Fami ly Source Consul tants . I am forever gratefu l that I was able to real ize my dreams of parenthood wi th the miracle of Gestat ional Surrogacy and Egg Donat ion, and I have made i t my l i fe miss ion to help others achieve their fami ly bui lding dreams as wel l .

Staci Swiderski, CEO & Co-FounderStaci Swiderski , CEO and Co-founder of Fami ly Source Consul tants has more than 15 years experience in Third Par ty Reproduct ion. Staci oversees the company to ensure values are appl ied consis tent ly f rom top to bot tom, across al l depar tments by implement ing the agency’s v is ion, miss ion and overal l direct ion.

Being a former In tended Mother herse l f , as wel l as a known egg donor twice, Staci has the passion, knowledge and personal experience re lated to reproduct ive medicine and fami ly bui lding.

In her f ree t ime, Staci enjoys reading, spending t ime wi th fami ly, t ravel ing and keeping up wi th the la tes t technologies.



Since 2007, Family Source has assisted nearly a thousand individuals and couples in their family building endeavors



Family Source Consultants Press

Family Source Consultants, located in Illinois, is one of North America's leading surrogacy agencies. Staci Swiderski and Zara Griswold founded the agency in 2007, inspired by their intimate knowledge of the process. Staci completed her family through surrogacy and has been an egg donor twice, and Zara built her family via surrogacy with the assistance of an egg donor. In fact, 75% of Family Source Consultants’ employees have been surrogates, egg donors or intended parents – which is one of the things that makes their agency unique.

Family Source Consultants is known for working with non-traditional, gay and lesbian couples, as well as individuals of all races, religious and ethnic backgrounds. I interviewed them to find out how the surrogacy market is changing, and what same-sex families can expect from the new Supreme Court ruling in this area.

Kate: Two of your offices are in Illinois. Is that for legal reasons?

Staci & Zara:We chose to base two of our offices in Illinois because it’s one of the best states for surrogacy legal protection. According to the United States Census data, there are currently over 34,000 same-sex couples in long-term relationships within the state, and 21% of them are raising children. Many of those same-sex couples chose to become parents through surrogacy or adoption. Illinois became the 16th state in the nation to recognize marriage equality in 2014, but provided equal adoption and surrogacy options to same-sex couples well before that.

Kate: What are some of the unique challenges same-sex couples face when using a surrogate?

Staci & Zara: Surrogacy presents LGBT individuals with the opportunity to have a family, but it’s not an option that is available nationwide.

The current legal landscape for surrogacy across the USA is inconsistent, with surrogacy laws differing between States. In order for surrogates and intended parents to have their legal rights protected - so the intended parents are the legal parents of the baby rather than the surrogate - the surrogate must deliver in a state where surrogacy is legal.

Ju ly 7, 2015 / Kate Harr ison, Contr ibutor

The Supreme Court's Ruling On Same-Sex Marriage Opens Up The Surrogacy Market

(cont.)



Kate: Which states are the best and worst in terms of surrogacy rights?

Staci & Zara: Some of the best states for surrogacy rights include Illinois, Florida, California, Nevada, Arkansas and Connecticut. Some of the worst states include New York, New Jersey (see yesterday's article about Governor Chris Christie vetoing an important Pro-LGBT Surrogacy Bill), Michigan, Washington and Nebraska.

Kate: Does the Supreme Court Ruling change the legal landscape?

Staci & Zara: In some states, the Gestational Surrogacy Act might state that intended parents must be married, but thanks to the new Supreme Court ruling making same-sex marriage legal nationwide, more married same-sex couples should have their surrogacy parent rights protected in the future.

Kate: Are there any other implications of the ruling?

The LGBT community also has the hurdle of being matched with surrogates who are open to carrying for them.

Approximately half of our surrogate candidates are usually unwilling to be ‘matched’ with a same-sex couple or same-sex single intended parent. Or sometimes the surrogate herself would be willing to carry for the intended parents, however, her husband or other family members do not approve.

Hopefully this will change as we move a step closer to equality and acceptance with rulings such as the same-sex marriage legalization.

Kate: How will the ruling help your business and the industry?

We're already seeing more interest from same-sex couples since the Supreme Court's landmark ruling, including inquiries from newly engaged & married same-sex couples.This might be because the same-sex couples reside in states where they would now have legal parental rights to a child born through a surrogate if they are married. The ruling might also be providing a newfound sense of security and acceptance, which in turn can lead to the desire to build a family.

We matched our first same-sex couple when we opened our doors in 2007. Our same-sex client base has increased each year, and now about 50% of our clients are same-sex couples. We predict this percentage will increase even more now with the new marriage ruling.

Article available online at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2015/07/07/the-supreme-courts-ruling-on-same-sex-marriage-opens-up-the-surrogacy-market/#f65d5f24e5db

The Supreme Court's Ruling On Same-Sex Marriage Opens Up The Surrogacy Market (cont.)




Cliff Hastings and Ron Hoppe-Hastings sailed through the vows at their 2011 civil union ceremony, until they got to the part about entering into fatherhood together.

"We cried our eyes out," says Hastings, 41. The topic of parenthood was emotional for them, he says — they both really wanted kids — but there was more to it than that: "We didn't know what the options were. We both thought that having kids might be more of a pipe dream than an actual reality."

Today, Hastings and Hoppe-Hastings are the proud fathers of 11-month-old twin girls conceived with the aid of an egg donor and grown in the womb of a surrogate, a woman who carries a baby (or babies) for other people, often heterosexuals with fertility issues.

No one tracks how many gay men are having babies via surrogates, but observers say that the numbers are growing.

"I've definitely seen an increase," says Dr. Eve Feinberg, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

November 23, 2016 / Nara Schoenberg

Gay men increasingly turn to surrogates to have babies

(cont.)



"As gay marriage has become legal, I think it's become much more socially acceptable for men to pursue fertility treatments and have babies."

Five years ago, surrogacy for gay men was "unheard of" at Fertility Centers of Illinois, Feinberg says. When she left the practice in July, 20 to 30 male couples were pursuing surrogacy in a given year.

An informal survey of fertility clinics in more than 10 cities conducted for the Tribune by FertilityIQ (www.fertilityiq.com), a website where patients evaluate their fertility doctors, found that 10 to 20 percent of donor eggs are going to gay men having babies via surrogacy, and in a lot of places the numbers are up 50 percent from five years ago.

Cost remains a big barrier, according to FertilityIQ co-founder Jake Anderson, with costs for gay men, who typically need a surrogate and an egg donor, coming in at about $100,000 to $200,000. But with employers increasingly paying for fertility treatments for heterosexual couples, and lesbians pushing for insurance benefits that include them, gay men will likely gain more insurance coverage as well, according to Anderson.

"We think this is going to be pretty darn commonplace," he says. "Maybe not tomorrow, but five years from now, 10 years from now, everybody will know a few people who have built their families through gay surrogacy."

Hastings and Hoppe-Hastings, who are married and live outside Champaign, Ill., thought that they would adopt their children. But then, about three years ago, one of Hastings' high school classmates posted pictures on Facebook. She was pregnant, and when Hastings congratulated her, she explained that she was a surrogate, carrying a baby for a heterosexual couple. The friend got Hastings in touch with the agency that had arranged her surrogacy, Family Source Consultants in Chicago.

From the first meeting with the agency, he says, surrogacy just felt right.

"It was a very known process in which there were many, many steps that would allow us to be part of that child's creation and birth," says Hastings, director of sales at a software company.

"Although there were many things down the path that could go wrong, we would know who the egg donor was, we would know who the surrogate was, we would be on that path of a nine-month process. We had an agency that we really felt was supporting us."

There were setbacks. The first egg donor chosen by the dads didn't pass a psychological screening. The first surrogate they chose, a married Indiana mother, initially agreed to carry their baby, but then, a few weeks later, she texted Hastings. Her church didn't approve of doing surrogacy for a same-sex couple; she was backing out.

Gay men increasingly turn to surrogates to have babies (cont.)

(cont.)



Gay men who want children are increasingly turning to egg donors and surrogates. An informal survey suggests that 10 to 20 percent of donor eggs are now going to gay men.

"That was tough for us," says Hoppe-Hastings, 32, a stay-at-home dad who, along with Hastings, coaches the national champion girls volleyball team at Parkland College. "We almost felt like we had miscarried to a certain degree because we'd gotten so far in the process, and then we were back to nothing."

The dads took a month off from the process, and when they came back, everything just clicked.

"Our eventual surrogate and egg donor just kind of fell into our laps via the agency," Hoppe-Hastings says. "We interviewed them both the same day and just kind of fell in love with both of them, so it just worked out perfectly."

Eggs were extracted from the egg donor and fertilized. Then two of the best embryos were implanted in the surrogate's uterus; one of them biologically belonging to Hastings, the other to Hoppe-Hastings.

There were more bumps in the road: The girls were born 6 weeks early and had to spend 19 days in a Chicago-area hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. Hoppe-Hastings came up to Chicago to be with his daughters, staying at a Ronald McDonald House. Hastings had to stay in Champaign to work. The dads' insurance company initially deemed the babies' hospital "out of network," a costly distinction that added to the fathers' stress.

In the end, though, everything worked out. The insurance company came through, and the girls came home.

Today, they're crawling and learning to walk.

"They're perfectly healthy," says Hastings. "They're gigantic. The doctor is constantly surprised that they're premature."

Alexandra, who goes by Alex, is very confident — "just a little bulldozer," Hastings says. She's also a big hugger. Sydney is more sensitive, more in tune with her emotions and an avid explorer. She loves to crawl through the house, finding new things.

"They're easy babies," says Hastings. "Probably the biggest thing is just waking up at 3 a.m. when one cries and just praying to God that we get in there before she wakes up the other one."

Article avaialbe online at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-gay-men-having-babies-health-1130-20161123-story.html

Gay men increasingly turn to surrogates to have babies (cont.)




When Megan Steinecke gave birth to her second child, the midwife who helped her made an observation: She has a perfect body for giving birth.

The Davenport woman now is expecting her fifth baby. The first two children are her own little girls, and the three others are children for other couples.

Working through the Chicago-based Family Source Consultants, Steinecke, with the blessing of her husband, Jeramy, has given birth for two more couples: A pair of bankers from Spain and two physicians based in Chicago.

Steinecke receives a base payment of $25,000, as well as compensation for pregnancy-related expenses, for each birth. She has used the funds for her family's expenses.

"Pregnancy is something I enjoy," she said from her rural Davenport home. She and Jeramy are raising their daughters, Jolee, 8 and BeaJae, 5, in a modest home on five acres of rolling Iowa land.

They married 10 years ago, and it took time to find the bucolic rural setting. Jeramy Steinecke

June 3, 2016 / Deirdre Cox Baker

Surrogate prepares for third-time birth

(cont.)



was raised on a farm, and the couple has strong values on how involved they are with family and how they want to raise the children.

Megan, 33, was working with babies and toddlers in Head Start when she met Jeramy. She has a bachelor's degree in music education from St. Ambrose University, but she got the job at Head Start while substitute teaching in the Quad-Cities.

The Steineckes first lived in Davenport as they searched for a home in the country, and they found the perfect site just west of the city. It is the only home their children know; the girls attend Buffalo Elementary School.

Both Megan and Jeramy have extended families, and Megan has a sister-in-law who wasn't expected to have children. Also, a girlfriend went through a tough infertility experience.

The two women's experiences prompted Megan to investigate surrogacy. She started by using Google and found two clinics in Chicago.

She made contact with the surrogate agencies right before the Labor Day weekend in 2012 and expected to hear back after the holiday. Instead, Family Source representatives called her on the weekend, and the Steinecke family made arrangements to travel to Chicago.

Jeramy Steinecke has been supportive of his wife from the beginning. He accompanied her on the trips to Chicago and has been with her in the delivery rooms.

Megan chose the first couple, two bankers from Spain, because she saw they share the same family values. An embryo was transplanted into her uterus in January 2013, and a healthy baby girl was born in October.

A fertility clinic in Highland Park, Ill., was the setting for the embryo transfer. The procedure takes about five minutes.

Before the transplant Megan went through a strict 30-day hormonal routine, as well as ultrasound tests and blood work. She did some of the procedures at the University of Iowa's satellite clinic in Bettendorf and delivered the babies at Trinity Moline. She also uses a gynecologist in Moline. Megan is considered an Illinois surrogate as she lives in a county that adjoins the state.

The first baby was born in a crowded delivery room: Jeramy was present at his wife's side; the two fathers had flown in from Spain and had a translator; and there was an obstetrician and nurses.

"It was pretty interesting but well worth it," she said.

Surrogate prepares for third-time birth (cont.)

(cont.)



Giving the baby to the fathers was easier than Megan anticipated."It was because I knew, from the very beginning, that this baby was in no way genetically connected to me," she said.

The Steinecke girls did form a bond with their mom's growing belly and easily accepted the explanation: Some people cannot have babies, and Mommy can, so she will help them.Get news headlines sent daily to your inbox

The Spanish fathers asked Megan to give them a sibling to the first baby, and she agreed. Eight months later, she started the process for a second time and a baby girl was born in 2015.

In the meantime, Megan has gotten a job with Family Source Consultants and works to coordinate surrogates with prospective families. She decided to get pregnant a third time when she spotted a profile of two doctor fathers.

She does not keep in close contact with the doctors, as she did, and continues to do, with the fathers from Spain. But she describes the relationship as good, overall.

The third baby, a boy, is due June 16. She would consider one more surrogacy if this couple wants a sibling for their child, but she also sees the end of her pregnancy journeys.

"I'm hesitant to start with a brand new couple," she said, noting it took her a full week to decide to go ahead and work with the Chicago physicians.

At first, the money involved was needed.

"Those medical bills just never go away," she said, noting Jeramy had a motorcycle accident but is now recovered.

The Steineckes also decided that two girls is all they need for their family. Megan appreciates surrogacy for the impact on all involved.

"My kids see what it's like to give of yourself, and they are into helping others," she said. "That helps to inspire me."

Article available online at: http://qctimes.com/news/local/surrogate-prepares-for-third-time-birth/article_a38ba5c2-87cc-54f7-a8ab-412d5d5ee626.html

Surrogate prepares for third-time birth (cont.)



Family Source Consultants Video

FOX 4 CHICAGO / MORNING BLEND FOX 4 CHICAGO / MORNING BLEND

FOX 32 CHICAGO FOX 32 CHICAGO

Interview Topics of ExpertiseBecoming a Surrogate

The Surrogacy Process

Becoming a Parent through Surrogacy

International Surrogacy Arrangements

Surrogacy for Gay Men

Being a Known Egg Donor

Becoming a Parent through Egg Donation

Available online at:www.familysourcesurrogacy.com/about-us/media



Family Source Consultants Testimonials

Holly, FSC Egg DonorImagine for a moment living a life with greater meaning than you could ever dream of. A life with more treasures than a pot of gold and heart so full of purpose that you could pass away today knowing you’ve left a legacy of love behind you. Imagine being a part of a miracle that will last forever.

As a repeat egg donor, I have gotten the privilege of imagining just that, and it’s been one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever been a part of. My time with FSC has opened not only my mind, but also my heart in ways I couldn’t have imagined before.

There are some people who look at egg donation and surrogacy as simply scientific medicine, but I have seen first hand the humanity and love that goes into every cycle: (from donor to doctor, to intended parent to surrogate, to coordinator to baby) and love is greater than science every time.

I have fallen in love with FSC and it’s mission to create families and share love. Over the last few years, it’s become a passion of mine to continue this mission long after my donations have ended. There is nothing more fulfilling than realizing our purpose, and I believe we share in life’s mission to love others in any way can. –And where there is love, there will always be miracles.

Michael and KristinaParents through Gestational Surrogacy

Dreams do come true…you just need to know where to look for the guidance to make them happen. Our dreams were simple. We wanted to get married, have two or three children, and laugh everyday. We didn’t think we were asking for too much; just a quiet life filled with family and love.

In all of our life experiences, no one ever explained to us that it old be impossible for us to have children on our own. Our son was our blessing. It was not until his birth and all the complications when we realized he could be the only child we had on our own. Because of Family Source Consultants, our dream of another child came true.

From the very first phone call to Family Source Consultants, we felt and knew we were in good hands. There are so many details that one cannot know about surrogacy until the process has begun. Each and every interaction was handled professionally and with true care about our feelings. The emotional journey was made easier with Family Source Consultants. With one phone call your dreams can begin to come true.

Through each and every step of finding a surrogate, Family Source Consultants will be there. With their help, we were matched with a surrogate who we could not ask for more from… she was and is simply amazing.



Family Source Consultants Testimonials

Dawn, FSC Gestational SurrogateMy experience with this agency has been nothing less than a blessing in matching me with a wonderful family to help. I started off by hearing an ad on the radio about these women who were going to be egg donors and surrogates. I am a single mother with three boys of my own and when I heard about this on the radio I thought to myself, what a wonderful way to help a family who is really looking to have a child when my family is blessed with so many children. How could I turn down this opportunity or at least try to help?

I started doing some research about egg donors and being a surrogate and found a web site for Family Source Consultants. After going to their web page I found it to be very user friendly and very easy to look into the different programs they offered.

I started off by filling out an application and within a couple of days I received a phone call from their agency. We then scheduled a meeting and Zara came to Minnesota to meet with me.

I have since been with Family Source and referred my younger sister to their agency. We have both been matched with wonderful Intended Parents.

After being matched in July, 2007 and going through all the different tests and evaluations we have made it through everything and have a transfer date of February 2, 2008. Although this can be a long and painful journey for those Intended Parents in finding that perfect person to be in their life and to carry their unborn child, this agency has made it very easy.

Some Intended Parents look for years to find someone, but I can honestly say that from my experience and from working with Zara and Staci it has been a great and wonderful blessing in matching me with my Intended Parents. They have been there for me 100%. They have been there for me to answer all my questions whether big or small. They are there if you just feel you need to talk or need reassuring about anything throughout this whole journey.



International Surrogacy & Egg Donation

Family Source Consultants has assisted many International Intended Parents in building their families via Surrogacy and/or Egg Donation. We understand that for Intended Parents who live outside of the United States, there is an extra amount of trust and faith necessary in choosing an agency. We price ourselves in providing the communication, guidance and support that international Intended Parents need in order to feel comfortable and well-informed through each step of your journey.

We have a team of International Coordinators who speak fluently in Chinese, Spanish, French and Hebrew. We are able to assist with interperters to be available for telephone, Skype and in-person meetings.



Contact Family Source Consultants

Florida Office

100 SE 2nd Street, Suite 2000Miami, Florida 33131T: (786) 209-2325

Texas Office

21750 Hardy Oak Blvd., Suite 102San Antonio, Texas 78258T: (210) 510-4147

Illinois Offices

200 W. Madison, Ste. 2100Chicago, IL 60606T: (312) 277-4008

1000 Essington Rd.Joliet, IL 60435T: (815) 725-7474

General Inquiries

T: (800) 372-0529Fax: (888) [email protected]



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chicago | miami | san antonio - family source surrogacy ......five years ago, surrogacy for gay men...

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