We have culled these glowing reviews of BBAS and Denise Hubbard from The Adoption Guide’s former bulletin board of older website postings from July 14, to Sept. 19, 1998.  

    Later, similar glowing recommendations for BBAS were pulled from other bulletin boards on adoption.com. I also learned through an email contact and a client using Alliance for Children that Denise Hubbard was trolling the boards and having her clients post reviews like the following, hitting every nerve that a prospective, timid and ignorant prospective adoptive parent — like myself at the time — would have. 

    (All as originally posted and typed)

Tuesday, July 14, 1998 7:17 PM

From: David L. Gold

Subject:  Adoptions:

My husband and I have been interested in adopting for a long time.  We have been married for 15 years and have tried to talk with domestic adoption agencys but there are so many that require money down before you can even get information.  With great disappointments we decided to give up on adoptions until we heard about BUILDING BLOCKS.

Building Blocks is a international adoption agency which specializes in Russian Adoptions.  This agency is so great.  They treat you like you are god.  Even though they have several clients they treat each and everyone as if you was the only one.  When we have questions or need just to talk they return our calls that day.  They inform us of any news that is happening in Russia and they treat you with respect.  Denise Hubbard is the director and her family also has adopted a child from Russia.

As of July 30^th, 1998, we will have our TWO adopted Russian children and a long awaited dream come true. 

Thank you to Building Blocks.  If it was not for them and the care they showed during our whole process, we would not have these children.  Our family is now complete.

Sincerely,

Teresa, David, Mason & Macala Gold

 

Tuesday, July 14, 1998 8:42 PM

From: Suzanne K. Meler

Subject:  Building Blocks

I wish everyone could be as blessed as I feel, having finally found Denise Hubbard, Director of Building Blocks, for my adoption faciliator.  She has become my friend and mentor over the past few months.

I cannot say enough about this agency.  Prior to finding Building Blocks, I had spent several months (and several thousand dollars) with another adoption faciliator [Hemanski in PA], only to find that the young, healthy child I had longed for was all but unavailable to me (a single mother) through her resources.  Now my dream is finally coming true.  I have only been working with Building Blocks for a few months and I am already scheduled to travel to Russia at the end of this month to adopt my little girl.

 Building Blocks is by far the most professional and caring agency I have ever contacted.  The Director (herself) is sure to return your calls, usually within the hour.  She is knowledgeable and easy to talk with.  Sometimes I have called to ask important questions and sometimes just to feel reassured.  Denise is never too busy to find time to comfort and lead me through the rough spots.  The service is also very reasonably priced.

If you are looking for an agency, try Building Blocks…you will not be disappointed.  Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

    “Suzanne K. Meler” was mentioned in an online edition of the BBAS newsletter of March or May 1999 as being on BBAS’ “board of directors.” Filings with the state of Ohio show, in fact, that she was president of the board in 2001 and “terminated” in December 2003.

    Although relieved of  “Board of Directors” status in December 2003, she showed up on May 22, posting to the Yahoo! Vladivostok Adoption group.  During the initial posting and a few others which followed in June and July 2004, Suzanne stated her daughter was now 7 years old, having been adopted from Baby Home #2 in Vladivostok.  She was “looking for information” because she was “considering a second adoption.”  She mentioned Building Blocks on June 4, 2004 stating: “My experience was wonderful with this agency.  We still enjoy annual picnics and Christmas parties with the Building Blocks families.”

    Suzanne Meler neglected to state her association with BBAS since her adoption in 1998. She didn’t mention why she wasn’t considering this second adoption with Building Blocks, yet our intuition leads us to believe she will pursue a second adoption with them.  More fool her.

Tuesday, July 14, 1998 9:47 PM

From:  Cory Wood

Subject: Building Blocks Adoption Service…an enjoyable, affordable experience

After spending innumerable hours on the internet, at adoption conferences, talking to others who have had adoption experience and requesting information packets from literally hundreds of agencies, I finally found the light at the end of the tunnel!  Building Blocks Adoption Agency (and especially Denise Hubbard) has been the answer to our prayers.

After years of longing for our own child, my husband and I will finally be leaving for Russia in early August to pick up our beautiful, healthy new daughter.  I encourage any one who is ready to put their faith in someone with the most important decision in their life (a new child) to contact this agency.  Their name is Building Blocks Adoption Service and they can be reached at: (330) 735-5521.  The email for Denise Hubbard is dhubbard@ohio.net

They have been so helpful, supportive, efficient and last but not least…affordable.  I truly feel that they are performing this service for the children…not the money.  How refreshing after hearing astronomical prices quoted to me by over ¾ of the other agencies.  Most importantly, the support has been amazing.  I wish anyone reading this right now all the luck in the world in finding their child.

 

Sunday, August 2, 1998 7:33 PM

From: OwenNSandi@aol.com

Subject: An Adoption Agency With A Wonderful Heart

I am so glad I found this board! I wanted somewhere to share with people about our experience with this wonderful agency we found!  You see, my wife and I searched for many months for the perfect agency to help us adopt a child.  With many agencies we found ourselves getting the same treatment over and over again, the “We will mail you information” line, and if we had a questions it was, “Attend our seminar” or “Make an appointment” ([we] liked this one the best: “fill out the application, send in the fee, then we’ll talk”)  Well, guess what I do not like people who are not personable it comes to great life changes!  Or people who act like they just want the money, or only open 9-5!  Come on, we are adopting, not buying a car! Ok, my frustration is out! 

Now, one day my wife was searching through the Internet and came upon a site for Building Blocks Adoption Agency, she read the site and got very excited.  She emailed the agency and believe it or not, they replied in 2 hours! So we decided to call them and guess what!  They answered the phone at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday night!  Wow!  We were excited! 

After the director of the agency answered our questions for 45 minutes, we hung up the phone and just knew that God intended for us to find this great lady!  Someone who cares! She doesn’t work for money! She works for the children!  The parents! And is so full of life!  But best of all, she is an adoptive parent herself, knows what it is like to be an “seeking to adopt” parent.  It has been 3 months now and we have approval, just got a video of our beautiful children and we shall travel in September. 

Now the director of our agency, Denise Hubbard will cry with you, laugh with you and she will say “Not a problem, No problem is too big, it may take a little work, but we will get it done!”  Denise tells me that other clients always say to her “Why do you see the glass always halfful, not half empty?”  Denise replies, because life is too short and we need to make a difference today, not tomorrow!” So you see, we found a friend, and a great person all in one!

If you are looking for an upstanding agency who will be honest with you on everything, then call Building Blocks at 330-725-5521 or email them at dhubbard@ohio.net or email me!  I will help and I won’t charge you! HA HA HA!  GOD BLESS ALL ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND PEOPLE LIKE DENSIE HUBBARD!

Owen  

    Owen & Sandi would pop up again on Sept. 19, 1998 at 3:23 p.m. under the subject heading: WE ARE HOME!!!!!!!!!

Our adoption went great, our daughter is beautiful healthy and wonderful.  We are so greatful for Denise Hubbard and the Building Blocks staff.  Our trip was very organized and profresional, but personally done well.

Russia is a beautiful country and the people are so proud.  Our coordinator, translator and driver could not do enough for us!

We have already decided that next year we will return to Russia through Denise and adopt again.  This time for a BOY!! Life is good!

    We strongly suspect “Sandi” is Sandi Harding, BBAS‘ “office manager,” as an Owen and Sandi Harding did live in Medina, Ohio.

    No “Owen and Sandi” appeared on any registry on the Internet as having had adopted from BBAS — either in 1998 or 1999. Whatever happened to those plans for a boy!!? Note Sandi’s bio on the BBAS page mentions that she’s a grandmother.  It says nothing about her having adopted a child, through BBAS or any other agency.

    Harding is Denise Hubbard’s maiden name. 

    Even more interesting was a posting Denise had made herself, nine months earlier, to Parents’ Place’s international adoption bulletin boards, just after returning from Russia to pick up Emily, that also uses the phrase “Life is good!” 

    Had Denise been filtering postings through the mysterious SO113 to make it appear she had more clients that she actually did at the time? Had “Owen and Sandi” actually even adopted themselves?

Tuesday, August 18, 1998 10:56PM

From:  NewsTV7@aol.com “Barb”

Subject: Adopting from Russia and Agencies Involvement

Adopting from Russia has been a very positive experience for my wife and I.  Make sure your agency provides you with all the information about the areas you are traveling to and the places you will stay.  Being informed is a must when traveling to any foreign country.  Our agency Building Blocks provided us with many informative resources on the areas and places we stayed at in Russia…

    More on Friday, Sept. 4, 1998:

  Subject: Building Blocks Adoption Information from this same NewsTV7@aol.com person:

 This message is for the lady who emailed me to ask about Building Blocks number and address.  I apologize, I deleted you! OOPS!  Here is the information:

…website: http://www.angelfire.com/oh/buildingblocks

 Yes, they do single women adoptions.  Yes, you can adopt more than one unrelated child.  Yes, the fees stay the same throughout your adoption. Yes, they are great and we had no problems.  Yes, we checked them out, we only found good, not bad, even the state licensing committee recommended them.

Again, I apologize and I hope I remembered all of your questions, if not email me again – B&a

    And then from “Barb”on Sept. 8 at 9:44 p.m.

Subject: I need to share my views on adoption

I have had a lot of questions from others, going through the process myself, people should know the following!  Listen, through a lot of research, I have noticed one thing about agencies, the majority of them will not give you a concrete answer up front on the costs of adoption.  You should not pay anymore than $2,000 up front, the remainder of the fees should be paid after the services are provided, you should only have to take the orphanage fee to Russia, plus your expenses.  Also NO SLIDING SCALES!!!! Please,! The fee should be the same for EVERYONE! 

Your agency should be available at all times and not just 9-5 M-F.  Let’s face it, the majority of us work full time Mon-Fri and do not have the access to a phone to ask questions…The agency’s contacts overseas should be organized, caring and make you feel at home in their country…If there is a small problem your agency should be able to assist you in their best efforts…Think about what we take for granted and what the children are missing.  We do not hesitate to go out and buy a $50 pair of shoes or a $100 video game, so let’s not think bribery when offering these small tokens, but think of it as humanitarian aid.  No bribery should take place, you should not have to pay large sums of money to get the job done.  If your agency has the right group of people overseas, they should need no money except for what you want them to get or do for you, your agency pays them! (or should)…

Please check all agencies out through the Attorney General’s Office, the agency licensing status through your state, check the BBB and most of all, get at least two references.  These references should not be a secret your agency should provide these for you BEFORE you even decide to sign.  Also remember, if an agency does not have time for you now, will they have time for you later?  In a crisis?  How long does it take for them to respond to you?  Any silly questions, do they not care?…  

[NOTE: upon re-reading this, I wonder if it was some sort of precursor to what would happen with Daniel and I when dealing with this same wonderful agency. Also, it is a flat-out lie that the state licensing committee recommended them ... as should be obvious to anyone, it would be a conflict of interest for them to do so.]

    The following post stands out because this was the family member that later came to work for Denise. This one is verifiable and she gives herself away.  

    We believe that this “Wendy” at CRAM1701@aol.com who adopts a boy named Eric is none other than Wendy Stamper.  She was to become in mid-1999 Denise’s right-hand woman and second in charge.  

    Wendy’s email address soon after changed to AdoptEric@aol.com. Wendy Stamper adopted Eric from Vladivostok. Note that this “Wendy” mentions her sister having her own agency. 

Wednesday September 9, 1998 11:00 PM

From: CRAM1701@aol.com

Subject:  building blocks – what a blessing!

We are the proud parents of a beautiful 18 month old boy named Eric!  The person we have to thank is Denise Hubbard the owner of Building Blocks. 

Our story started last January when I began researching adoptions.  I didn’t feel comfortable with any of the agencies I talked to – the main focus was always on the money and the risk!  Then I found Denise!  I called her because my sister told me she had just adopted from Russia and I wanted to find out which agency she used.  When she told me she had her own agency, I couldn’t believe it.  I went to see her home that day!  

Denise is a wonderful person – she truly cares for these children in Russia and about finding them loving homes!  She held our hands the whole way thorugh our experience and she still is since we’ve been home with our little guy!  I would recommend Building Blocks and Denise to everyone who is interested in adopting from Russia.  She is truly a guardian angel to these beautiful children.

    Denise Hubbard had also been posting on the Usenet groups alt.adoption and alt.adoption.agency November 1998 through February 1999.  

    Take, for example, this one, posted Dec. 12, 1998. Obviously she was trying to drum up some business:  

Hello.  I hope this message finds all well.  I want to wish everyone the happiest of holidays during this holiday season.  It has come to my knowledge that there are many older children between the ages of 5-10 years and sibling groups of 2-3 and 4 children that are widely available for adoption throughout the Russian Federation.  These children are the most hardest to place since they are older and come in groups.  We need to help these children stay together and be placed with families who will love them and raise them as their own.  If anyone is interested in any of these children or knows of families willing to help these children out please e-mail me directly.  Also please keep these children and many others who are without homes in your prayers this coming holiday season.  God Bless all of you and I hope all your dreams and wishes come true in the next new year.

Denise Hubbard, President

Building Blocks Adoption Services  

  And this on Feb. 3, 1999:

Becoming a parent should become one of the most exciting times in ones life.  Whether you adopt, or become a parent through biological resources you should feel blessed and unconditional love.

It is great to see so many people who want to adopt, whether they can have children of their own or not.  Children are one of the greatest gifts of life that one can receive.

Many children are available for adoption in Russia and the Ukraine.  These children are infants to school age children and need loving parents to support, raise and nurture them into great people.

Many sibling groups and special needs children are also longing to be held, loved and raised by caring, loving parents.

We would like to help anyone who is interested in opening their hearts and homes to these phenomenal children.

Shouldn’t all of God’s Children be given the chance to flourish, be loved and nurtured as He intended?  I hope many will answer yes!

I know these children are phenomenal.  I have seen, held and loved a child who longed for a home.

God Bless all and feel free to contact us via e-mail if you like.  Denise

    Return to Chapter one