Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery was in Milwaukee Thursday as part of an event that helps families looking to adopt.
Montgomery shared his story event hosted by Gift of Adoption, a charity that helps families afford to complete adoptions.
"This is who I am. I myself wasn't adopted. I was not a foster child, but my mom took in 17 foster kids over the course of my life," he said.
The event goes a long way to help families like the Funkhousers, who are looking to adopt.
"If a family like us can do this and get through it there's really no barriers for anyone," said adoptive parent Dave Funkhouser.
Dave and Jill Funkhouser had five biological kids and even after two failed adoptions, they wanted to adopt. Dave was recovering from stage four head and neck cancer when they got the call.
"Pretty much out of the blue right in the middle of my recovery from cancer they called us and said Abraham was looking for a family," said Funkhouser.
Now they're a healthy family of eight.
"Anybody can do it. It's just a matter living selflessly I guess,” Jill said. "Everybody has so much love you just have to dig deeper."
Gift of Adoption said there are 150 million kids without permanent families, 415,000 in the United States alone.
"One of my foster brothers he's even told me he's not sure where he would have been in his life," said Montgomery.
To learn more about Gift of Adoption Fund visit the website.
Be sure and watch TODAY'S TMJ4 on Roku! We are the only station in Milwaukee to provide the latest news, weather and sports on the device. Search for us on Roku today!