Angels in Adoption Awards
New England Families and Professionals Recognized in DC
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption is a bicameral, non-profit alliance of over 170 Members of Congress dedicated to improving adoption policy and practice. The purpose of the Coalition is to focus public attention on the advantages of adoption for all concerned - the child, the biological parents and the adoptive parents. Each year, members of Congress recognize those individuals who have made a difference in the lives of children and families through adoption, and they are called Angels in Adoption. National Angel Awardees are chosen by the Coalition. All other Angels are chosen by their Congressional Representative. The award ceremony for 2003 Angels in Adoption was held in Washington, DC on September 30th. The recipients from New England and their nominating Congressmen were:
Connecticut
Anthony and Jacquelyn Barrows - Sen. Chris Dodd
Angel Torres - Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Maine
Jennifer Sylvester - Rep. Susan Collins
Massachusetts
Loretta Cahill in memoriam - Rep. John E. Tierney
Libbi Campbell - Rep. Marty Meehan
Nancy Hendrie - Rep. William Delahunt
Margaret O'Grady - Sen. Edward Kennedy
Craig and Jane Pixley - Rep. John Olver
Robert and Shirley Siff - Sen. John Kerry
Carolyn Smith - Rep. Michael Capuano
Kathleen Teahan - Rep. Stephen Lynch
Rhode Island
Chris Cotatgis - Rep. Jim Langevin
Vermont
Diane Dexter - Sen. James Jeffords and Sen. Patrick Leahy
Among the recipients from other parts of the U.S. are individuals some you will remember from their participation in the New England Adoption conference.
Susan Freivalds was nominated by MN Rep. Martin Sabo for her efforts in founding Adoptive Families Magazine. While Executive Director of Adoptive Families of America, her advocacy work was important to the passing of the first income tax credit, health benefits for adoptive families and adoption benefits in the workplace. North American Council on Adoptable Children was nominated by MN Rep. Betty McCollum for its role as one of the most important national resources for adoption information and advocacy. Many of you have attended conference workshops by Joe Kroll, Executive Director of NACAC. Susan Soon-Keum Cox was nominated by OR Sen. Ron Wyden. One of the first Korean adoptees to come to the U.S., she has been an adoption advocate for over 25 years. She has been a delegate to The Hague Conference (Hague Intercounrty Adoption Convention) and a tireless worker on the Immunization Act of 1997, the Citizenship Act of 2000 and the International Adoption Act of 2001.
Maxine Chalker was nominated by PA Sen. Arlen Specter. She has been a prominent leader in the open adoption movement. As an adoptee who has searched for birth family and worked with others who search, she has tried to dispel the myth and stigma surrounding adoption.
