Angels in Adoption Awards

New England Adoption Professionals and Families Recognized

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption is a bicameral, non-profit alliance of 160 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 2002 Angels in Adoption was held in Washington, DC on September 24th. The recipients from New England and their nominating congressmen were:

Connecticut
John and Eileen Merrill - Sen. Joseph Lieberman

Maine
Dawn Degenhardt - Sen. Susan Collins
Jan Riddle - Sen. Olympia Snowe

Massachusetts
Claudia Coplan - Rep. John Olver
Peter Gibbs - Rep. James McGovern
Maxine Kreikamp - Sen. Edward Kennedy
Adam Pertman - Rep. William Delahunt
John Rogers - Rep. Stephen Lynch
Jack Williams - Sen. John Kerry
David Potel - Rep. Barney Frank

New Hampshire
Stephen and Darlene Kimball - Sen. Bob Smith

Rhode Island
Darlene Allen - Sen. Lincoln Chafee

Vermont
Wanda Audette - Sen. James Jeffords
Carol MacDougall - Sen. Patrick Leahy

The 2001 Angels in Adoption were also recognized on September 24, 2002 because their ceremony was to have taken place on the evening of September 11, 2001.

The New England recipients of the 2001 Angel in Adoption Awards and their nominating congressmen were:

Connecticut
Norm and Judy Goldberg - Sen. Chris Dodd
Mark and Joyce Smith - Sen. Joseph Lieberman

Maine
Bill and Ellen County - Sen. Susan Collins

Massachusetts
Joan Clark - Rep. William Delahunt
Dr. Aaron and Louise Lazare - Rep. Barney Frank
Sharon Silvia - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
Deborah Wingard - Sen. John F. Kerry

New Hampshire
Belinda Castor - Sen. Bob Smith