Marc & JD

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Hello! Our origin story begins online in NYC at the end of 2012. After a long period of dating, we got engaged in 2019 when JD asked Marc to marry him (on JD’s birthday)

This led to a wedding at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Throughout our nearly 15-year relationship, we’ve largely built a life centered around curiosity, connection, and culture. We are each family-oriented with several childhood friendships still playing a significant role in our lives – and the idea of becoming parents has percolated quietly in the back of our minds since our earliest conversations.

As married gay men, our path to parenthood requires significant planning and intention. After exploring all options; adoption felt like the best decision and it wasn’t a difficult choice. We want our child to understand their journey and how we came into their life, who grows up in a home where loving others as family does not require shared DNA, and who we can empower to be the best version of themselves every day.

We have so much to offer – unconditional love & support, stability, creativity, a loving extended family, and a heartfelt eagerness to parent. We are honored to have your consideration.


About Marc

Marc Profile Photo

Job: Marc is the Head of Insurance Services at HODINKEE and is an art/collectibles appraiser on the side

Fun Fact: Marc is in the process of his second training program to learn hand building and wheel based pottery skills 

Hobbies: Collecting art, going to new museum exhibits and installations, volunteering for arts organizations, pottery


About JD

JD Profile Photo

JJob: JD is a Vice President within Integrated Firm Management at Morgan Stanley

Fun Fact: JD wasn’t able to do a ‘study abroad’ in the traditional sense while in college, but instead went on a solo backpacking trip – visiting 17 cities in 10 weeks in 2010 (blogging about it in realtime)

Hobbies: Tech, running, traveling to new places and trying new food, video games


Our Lives

Weekdays have rhythm, grounded in a work routine followed by dinner at home and evenings spent reading/relaxing, watching a movie, or meeting up with friends.

Weekends are intentionally less structured but usually begin with JD taking our dog Dakota to Central Park in the early mornings when off-leash is allowed, with Marc playing taxi and parking & getting coffees in the meantime. Working out, running errands, or connecting with friends are typical activities after getting home, before shifting gears to an evening plan – which is sometimes just staying in and ordering takeout.

Summer weekends our default is being down at the Jersey Shore at Marc’s family home, where swimming & relaxing by the pool, grilling, and playing games with family & friends define the season. Our favorite daytime game is cornhole and after dinner it’s the card game Hearts.


Our Family

Our family so far is just us and Dakota, our original fur child who was adopted as a puppy in 2015. Dakota is a wonderfully sweet and well behaved Norwegian Elkhound/Keeshond mix who is great around children. We get compliments on her all of the time and like to think some of it stems from how we’ve raised & taken care of her.

JD’s parents still live in the house he was raised in (in the suburbs of Philadelphia) with both of his siblings living nearby his parents. Similarly, Marc’s parents are still in the house he grew up in in the NYC suburbs (Northern Jersey) with his siblings both living nearby as well.

JD’s sister has two boys (3.5 years old and 6 months old as of June 2026) and we have several friends with kids who we intend to create new family traditions with along the way.


Final Thoughts

We know this process is probably layered with mixed feelings, and want you to know that we appreciate you even considering us for your child’s future parents. We’re extremely excited to welcome a child and expand our family when it’s meant to be. 

– JD & Marc

To learn more , contact our Adoption Team at 212-400-8150 or email us at [email protected].

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Elizabeth L. Smith

Mentorship Facilitator

Elizabeth L. Smith, LMSW (she/her) is a compassionate, trauma-informed, and adoption-competent therapist. In her Adoptee Support Sessions, she provides non-clinical support services to adopted people. Her clinical training, narrative work, and living experience as an adopted person inform her perspective and practice. Elizabeth possesses deep awareness, empathy, and understanding of the shifting complexities of adoption, reunion, search, and the importance of being together in community.

Waiting Children Profiles

Thank you for your interest in adopting through Spence-Chapin! We are able to share the profiles of children who are considered to be the most in need and are waiting internationally to be matched with an adoptive family. The children featured on this page have been waiting for the longest to find families and consist of children who are older, part of a sibling group, or children with a diagnosed medical condition. In order to respect the privacy of these children, this page has been password protected.

Spence-Chapin takes the privacy rights of the children that we are seeking to place very seriously, and share the profile with you under the following conditions:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PASSWORD ACCESS
That you acknowledge and understand that

1. Misuse of the content, and/or linking to any sites that reflect practices that involve the sale, abduction, exploitation, or trafficking of children is strictly prohibited.

2. You have been given limited access to confidential information in the form of images that you will not disclose to any person or in any manner that is inconsistent with applicable policies and procedures of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

3. The confidentiality obligation shall continue indefinitely, including at all times after my association with Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

4. You are not permitted to release, copy, distribute, or sell any of these images to third parties in any form.

5. Impermissible disclosure of the images may result in legal actions being taken against you, by or on behalf of that person.

6. You are doing this freely, voluntarily and with a full understanding of what you are agreeing to by entering/accessing this blog.

7. Thank you for your interest in providing a loving home for a waiting child! We look forward to connecting with you soon to continue discussing adoption paths at Spence-Chapin. We hope that you like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, and keep up with our families through our adoption blog!

Warm regards,
The Adoption Team at Spence-Chapin

Phone: 212-400-8150
Email: [email protected]

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