MyHeritage Extends DNA Quest Initiative to Help More Adoptees Reunite with Their Birth Families

MyHeritage pledges 5,000 additional free DNA kits for global
distribution to eligible participants, following the success of the
first phase of its pro bono initiative

TEL AVIV, Israel & LEHI, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNA?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#DNAlt;/agt;–MyHeritage,
the leading global service for family history and DNA testing, announced
today that it is extending DNA
Quest, its pro bono initiative to reunite adoptees with their birth
families through at-home DNA testing. The first phase of DNA Quest was
launched in March 2018 and offered 15,000 free DNA kits to adoptees and
those seeking to reunite with family members who were placed for
adoption. This resulted in many successful reunions. Due to the large
number of applicants, a waiting list of several thousand people was
established after registration closed in May 2018. The next phase of DNA
Quest announced today re-opens applications on the project website (www.dnaquest.org)
and will offer an additional 5,000 free DNA kits to eligible applicants
from all countries. Preference is given to applicants who are unable to
afford genetic testing.

MyHeritage helps people find their relatives using its DNA Matching
technology. The MyHeritage DNA database is one of the fastest-growing in
the industry and currently numbers 2.5 million people, including people
who tested on MyHeritage and others who uploaded the results of their
DNA test for free from other providers. Numerous participants have
already reconnected with long-lost family and others have obtained vital
clues to assist them in their search. New discoveries continue to
emerge, offering participants newfound hope of reuniting with their
long-lost loved ones. The search for biological family, especially for
birth parents, is time sensitive, as each year older relatives pass away.

Mitch Yurkovich, a Michigan resident and father of four, was adopted as
a baby and recently reunited with his biological parents and siblings
through DNA Quest. Mitch described the moment that he pieced together
the story of his past: “I began to shake, and couldn’t stop smiling! My
heart started to race and I was utterly blown away! This was news better
than anything in my wildest dreams… I had found my biological family!”

MyHeritage is committed to ensuring that participants receive support on
their journey to find their birth families. Last year, the company
formed a top-notch advisory board for DNA Quest comprised of world class
adoption experts and genetic genealogists, to provide guidance to
MyHeritage and the participants. The current project will continue in
this manner in 2019 with the same advisory board.

Eligible DNA Quest participants will receive a free MyHeritage DNA kit,
which consists of a simple cheek swab. DNA samples are processed in the
company’s CLIA-certified, CAP accredited lab in the U.S. and results are
available 3–4 weeks after the sample is received. All data is kept
private and secure and personal information is never shared with any
third parties.

Applications for DNA Quest are now open on the initiative’s website: www.DNAQuest.org.
Applications will close on April 30, 2019.

Some notable DNA Quest success stories:

1. DNA
Quest reunion featured on Good Morning America

2. New
Zealand siblings living just miles apart meet for the first time

3. Emotional
reunion of siblings who found one another through DNA Quest

4. DNA
Quest reunites half-siblings in their 50s

About MyHeritage

MyHeritage is the leading global service for family history and DNA
testing. As technology thought leaders, MyHeritage has transformed
family history into an activity that is accessible and instantly
rewarding. Its global user community enjoys access to a massive library
of historical records, the most internationally diverse collection of
family trees, and groundbreaking search and matching technologies.
Launched in November 2016, MyHeritage DNA is a technologically advanced,
affordable DNA test that reveals ethnic origins and previously unknown
relatives. Trusted by millions of families, MyHeritage provides an easy
way to find new family members, discover ethnic origins, and to treasure
family stories, past and present, for generations to come. MyHeritage is
available in 42 languages. www.myheritage.com

Contacts

MyHeritage
Rafi Mendelsohn
Director of PR & Social Media
Phone:
917-725-5018
Email: pr@myheritage.com