The 2007 Congressional Angels in Adoption™ Gala Program Welcome Barbara Harrison, Anchor, NBC 4 Invocation Dr. Barry C. Black, Chaplain, U.S. Senate First Course Served Remarks from CCAI Senate The Honorable Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senate and Congressional Directors The Honorable Norm Coleman , U.S. Senate Message from our Premier & Founding Sponsor Cheryl S. Clarke , Director of Foundation Giving The Freddie Mac Foundation Main Course Served Slide Presentation of 2007 Angels in Adoption™ Musical Performance Jim Brickman Message from CCAI Executive Director Deanna Carlson Stacy and Congressional Foster Youth Intern Agnes Barrios Dessert Served Recognition of 2007 Angels in Adoption™ The Honorable Jim Oberstar U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Director, CCAI Marcus Samuelsson Critically Acclaimed Chef and Author The Honorable Ginny Brown-Waite U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Director, CCAI Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat Founder of Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc. The Honorable Mary Landrieu , U.S. Senate Congressional Director, CCAI Patti LaBelle Award Winning Artist CCAI Would Like to Thank Thank You to the following for providing in-kind gifts and donating your valuable time and services: PREMIER SPONSOR AirTran Airways Senator Mary Landrieu Alice Goldstone Greg Lucid American Chemistry Council Alonzo Mourning AT&T Mignon Faget Representative Ginny Brown-Waite National Adoption Day Coalition PLATINUM SPONSOR Chicago Board Options Exchange National Cable & SUPERVALU, Inc. Senator Norm Coleman Telecommunications Association Continental Airlines Northwest Airlines GOLD SPONSORS CVS/pharmacy Foundation Representative Jim Oberstar Chevron Daunte Culpepper Katie Palmer Fluor Corporation The Dave Thomas Foundation Stan Phillips FMC Corporation for Adoption Progress Energy Valdur Koha DEMDACO The Remillard Family John Poulack Darryl “DMC” McDaniels Brooke Roberts SILVER SPONSORS Diageo Victoria Rowell American Chemistry Council DTE Energy Rosa Mexicano Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Family Christian Stores Don Rosacker Diageo Freddie Mac Foundation Frank Ryan Dow Chemical Company Freddie Mac Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Paul Shaffer Mortgage Insurance Companies of America Heart Gallery Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Textron Marine & Land Systems Freddie Mac Foundation’s Marcus Samuelsson Wednesday’s Child Mark Schonce BRONZE SPONSORS David Gaschen Mark Schultz Altria Group JamboKids Company, Inc. Sterling Portraits American Academy of Adoption Attorneys The James Fund Kathleen Strottman J.R. Simplot Jars of Clay US Airways Oracle Ju Ju’s Beads Joe and Bronwyn Vasapoli Shoppers Food & Pharmacy Kraft Foods Walt Disney Studios Southern Company Patti LaBelle Paul & Teri Singer Wendy’s International Debbie & Stuart Williams PARTNER SPONSORS 3M Gargoyle Asset Management BNSF Railway Company Darryle and Dawn Owens Entergy National Association of Home Builders Freeport McMoRan Foundation Van Scoyoc Associates NONPROFIT SPONSORS American College of Cardiology CHRISTUS Health Annie E. Casey Foundation National Council for Adoption Center for Adoption Support and Education Orphan Foundation of America Casey Family Programs The Pew Charitable Trusts Casey Family Services Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation 4 5 Message from the Executive Director Core CCAI Programs Tonight we celebrate our 2007 Angels in Adoption. Congratulations for this The Angels in Adoption™ Program, CCAI’s signature public awareness program, provides an oppor- honor of distinction from your Member of Congress! tunity for all Members of Congress to honor the extraordinary work of their constituents who have The world’s orphans, both in the United States and internationally, are depend- enriched the lives of foster children and orphans worldwide. Angels are invited to attend a Washington, ent on our combined compassion. With over 100,000 children in the United States’ D.C. awards ceremony, press conference, and evening Gala given in their honor. In addition to Angels cho- foster care system waiting to be adopted and over one hundred million children sen from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, National Angels are recognized for their adoption and around the world without a permanent family, we know the need is great. But each foster care advocacy on a global scale. Since the program’s inception in 1999, Congressional participation one of you has demonstrated tonight that together we can make a difference. The has grown from 133 Members to 193 Members and over 1,100 individuals and organizations have work we are committed to is challenging. But, as we look into the eyes of each child received the Angels in Adoption award of distinction. here tonight, we know our combined effort is lasting. Tens of thousands of children The Congressional Resource Program (CRP) is CCAI’s primary program to educate and serve the now have a permanent, loving family because of the combined compassion here Members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, Congress’ Adoption Caucus, around removing barri- tonight. ers for orphans worldwide and children in the U.S. foster care system who are eligible for adoption. We at CCAI are committed to being that strong voice in Congress for every child who does not have Through strategic briefings, roundtables, and weekly communications, CCAI exists to serve the Members a permanent, loving family. We want to ensure that every child in the world has the same rights of Congress as they seek to draft positive child welfare legislation and meet their constituents’ needs. The American-born children have. This includes children going to bed at night and having a permanent adult CRP programs success has included a 2005 Congressional Roundtable bringing 11 Members of Congress in their life who will be there in the morning. This also includes children in the U.S. foster care system and staffers from 19 additional offices together to discuss their 109th Congress child welfare legislative having a permanent family as soon as possible. At CCAI, our mission exists so children will be safe and agenda, a 2006 Congressional Roundtable bringing eight Members of Congress together to discuss court grow to be adults. We know that every child deserves to be loved. And we want every child to have reform, and a 2007 Legislative Roundtable bringing six Members of Congress and 21 staffers together to the opportunity to dream about their own bright future. discuss the Adoption Tax Credit and Foster Care Reform Legislation. Thank you for demonstrating in your words and actions that children are worth our deepest sacrifices. The CCAI Board of Directors, my staff, and I thank you for your commitment to us, day after The CCAI Congressional Delegations exist to increase positive dialogue and impact change for day. But, most of all, we thank you for your commitment to children and for giving them the greatest gift orphans and foster children among foreign and domestic government officials and U.S. Members of of all – a family. Congress. Since 2001, CCAI has organized Congressional delegation trips to China, Romania, Russia, Blessings to you tonight and thank you. Congratulations, again, to our 2007 Angels in Adoption. Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Uganda, and India, and has hosted leaders from around the globe in our We celebrate you tonight! nation’s capital. The lessons learned through these cross-cultural interactions have educated and challenged even the most learned of CCA’s Congressional Members. In January 2007, CCAI hosted a Congressional Deanna Carlson Stacy delegation to four counties in Florida to learn about their foster care system. During the three-day fact Executive Director finding tour, CCAI and Congressional staff held face-to-face meetings to discuss best practices with local and state legislators, adoption professionals, and adoptive families. The Congressional Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program provides talented college students who have spent their formative years in foster care an opportunity to intern for a Member of Congress. These History of the young adults bring their unique perspectives and resilient spirits to serve the U.S. Congress while being educated on the internal workings of our legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C. Since the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute program’s inception, over 50 Members of Congress have participated and the program has received wide- spread accolades from both Congressional offices and the national adoption community. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) was created in 1985 as a bicameral, bipartisan alliance National Adoption Day (NAD) is a day in November where thousands of children in the U.S. foster of Members of Congress dedicated to improving adoption policy and practice, and to focusing public care system are adopted. CCAI is proud to be a founding partner of this program which is organized by attention on the advantages of adoption. In order to support the work of the CCA and more effectively six national organizations. The NAD Coalition engages local communities to organize events in every state raise Congressional and public awareness about adoption, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to finalize pending adoptions out of foster care and celebrate all (CCAI) was created in 2001. Senator Norm Coleman, Senator Mary Landrieu, Congresswoman Ginny adoptive families. CCAI has secured Presidential Proclamations and Congressional participation every year Brown-Waite, and Congressman James Oberstar currently serve as