Kevin & Deanna Rupp
12 Willow Street,
Akron, PA--17501
(717) 859-1992
Email: krupp12w@dejazzd.com
Parenting/Life Experiences
Kevin & Deanna retired as foster parents after 10 years, having fostered over 60 children. Kevin & Deanna have a wide range of training and experience with the following disorders: Bi-Polar Disorder, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), AD (Attachment Disorder), RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder), PTSS (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome), and Asberger's Syndrome (a form of autism). All of their adopted children are diagnosed with at least one of these disorders. Two of their adopted children are classified as medically needy. Derrick is a severe asthmatic for which he is on a daily regiment of medicines to help control his asthma. Derrick also has severe food allergies which requires medicine to be carried with him wherever he travels. Felicia was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for a brain tumor in 1993, at the age of seven. The tumor was cancerous so they have experience with childhood cancer and all that goes with the treatment of childhood cancer. In August of 1998, Felicia was diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia. Nine weeks later, on October 1st, 1998, Felicia passed away. Kevin and Deanna have a wide range of experience dealing with doctors and hospitals. They are within 30 miles of Hershey Medical Center in Hershey PA, which is where Felicia received her treatment for cancer.
A majority of their children have some sort of learning disability, which requires them to be in special education classes at school. Kevin and Deanna are very adept at working with the school system and fighting to get the educational needs of their children met.
Deanna was adopted as an infant and has experienced in her life the questions and feelings adopted children often have. Her experiences have been very helpful in helping our children deal with adoption issues.
Household
Kevin and Deanna live in a single-dwelling home in a small quiet neighborhood. Their home has seven bedrooms with the potential of at least two more bedrooms possible. The Rupp home is situated away from the road and there is a large yard. They have two small dogs, a beagle and a pug.
Lifestyle
Kevin and Deanna are big advocates for the family unit. They include all family members in whatever they may do. As a family, they enjoy camping, baseball games, zoos and amusement parks. They love to travel and in the past they have traveled as a family to places such as Disney World, Tennessee, Outer Banks, North Carolina, Niagara Falls, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Atlanta, Georgia, as well as several trips to the beaches of Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. They enjoy nature and have done a vast amount of nature-related things with their children, such as the Skyline Drive, whale watching and hiking.
Kevin and Deanna encourage their children to be involved in a number of activities. Monica, Felicia and Tabby have participated in girls softball, girls basketball and girls volleyball leagues. They have also participated in their church youth program, church choirs and girl scouts. Monica is active in marching band and indoor guard through Ephrata Senior High School. Derrick and Calvin have participated in boys basketball and boys baseball, as well as indoor hockey leagues, art classes, church youth programs, church choirs and boy scouts.
Hobbies
Deanna--Deanna spent six years serving as President for the Foster Parent Association for the Agency through which they provided foster care. This position brought her in direct contact with many influential people in the community and brought the positive message of foster care and adoption issues to the public. She has testified at several state hearings in reference to her own experience in adoption and the rights of adoptees. Deanna also enjoys presenting public speeches relating to children, foster care and adoption. In her "spare time", Deanna can be found on the computer, updating their family home pages.
Kevin--Kevin enjoys computers and coaching. Kevin coaches the Akron Mustangs girls softball team. The team is for girls 12 and under (slow pitch). Kevin enjoys coaching this age girls and is a firm believer in using organized sports like girls softball to help young girls develop a sense of self esteem and comradery with their peers. Kevin is also an avid reader and can always be found reading a book while waiting for appointments or picking up the kids from activities.
Kevin and Deanna--Kevin and Deanna were advisors for the senior high youth group for their church for over 10 years and have taught Sunday School for a number of years. Together they also volunteer for the MAKE A WISH Foundation, chairing the Public Speaking division. Kevin and Deanna enjoy public speaking, especially for a worthwhile cause like MAKE A WISH Foundation.
Occupation
For over ten years, from 1990-2000, both Kevin and Deanna were state-licensed caregivers by the state of Pennsylvania and owned and operated a small daycare in their home. Deanna and Kevin now work for Stradling Funeral Homes in the Ephrata and Akron area. Deanna helps out with typing and computer work while Kevin can be found doing funeral-home related work (if you want to know more, YOU ask him!). Kevin is also employed full time as the meat manager for Weiser's Market in Akron, Pennsylvania.
Life Philosophy
To see the world through the eyes of a child is to see beauty, wonder and hope. If we can strive to live our lives seeing that same beauty, wonder and hope, the world will be a much better place.
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Married: June 16, 1984
Children:
Monica--3/24/85--Foster child since 10/90--Adopted 8/95
Felicia--7/30/85--Foster child since 6/92--Adopted 3/95 (deceased 10/1/98)
Derrick--3/5/89--Foster child since 10/90--Adopted 4/93
Calvin--2/11/90--Foster child since 12/92--Adopted 10/97
Tabitha--1/23/92--Foster child since 12/92--Adopted 10/97
Lawrence--11/3/97--Biological son
Alexis--12/20/99--Biological daughter
Lucas--7/15/02--Biological son