Top 100 Companies Helping Build Families Are Recognized on the 100th Anniversary of Mother's Day


DUBLIN, OH--(Marketwire - May 9, 2008) - For Latoya Walton, being a mother is a dream come true. When she and her husband, Gahmel, decided to adopt, Latoya had the support of her employer, JPMorgan Chase, behind her. JPMorgan Chase, #7 on the just-released Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list, reimbursed $10,000 of the couple's adoption expenses and gave her twelve weeks of paid time off to bond with Destiny.

Companies like JPMorgan Chase, enabling families to come together, are more common today than ever before. To honor such companies, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption released the second annual Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in America list to recognize organizations that provide exceptional support to employees who adopt. More than 50 organizations nationwide established or enhanced their adoption benefits for 2008.

"I work for a company that cares. JPMorgan Chase understands the importance of family -- and what it means to people struggling with infertility or who simply want to provide a loving home to a child in need," said Latoya Walton. "The Adoption Assistance program and the helpful assistance from LifeWorks made it possible for my husband and me to understand and afford the costly adoption process."

Rankings for the list are based on the amount of financial assistance and paid leave provided in adoption benefits packages. The Foundation compiled the results from survey data collected from 919 U.S. employers. Several survey partners helped extend the survey's scope by asking their subscribers/members to participate: Employee Benefit News, a SourceMedia publication that is the leading source of information for benefits decision makers; the National Restaurant Association; and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to ranking the top 100, the Foundation also recognized the top 10 by size, the leaders of each industry, and companies who support the cause of adoption in other ways. JPMorgan Chase also ranked #5 among large businesses and #2 in the financial services industry. Go to www.AdoptionFriendlyWorkplace.org to view each of the lists, watch video testimonials, and check out photos and quotes from winners.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Rita Soronen Executive Director Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (614) 764-8482 Yvonne Pentz Paul Werth Associates (614) 224-8114

Just as Mother's Day turns 100, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption releases its 2nd annual Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in America list. JPMorgan Chase (ranked #7) provides its 183,000 employees with a $10,000 reimbursement and twelve weeks paid leave. Pictured - Chase employee Latoya Walton, husband Gahmal and Destiny. www.AdoptionFriendlyWorkplace.org