Day: October 1, 2010

Oct 3rd: Kristin Chenoweth, adoptive family on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

This Sunday, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will feature an adoptive family along with Emmy Award winning actress and adoptee Kristin Chenoweth.  Even more special, both Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Kristin Chenoweth will be honored by CCAI on October 6 as National Angels in Adoption during our annual gala in Washington, DC.  The show has featured numerous adoptive and foster families and has been instrumental in raising awareness about the needs of children and families.  Adopted as a child, Kristin is outspoken about the important role her adoption has played in her life and shaping who she is today.  She recently joined forces with the Dave Thomas Foundation for adoption as their spokesperson for foster care adoption.

Be sure to tune in to ABC at 8/7c this Sunday to see these National Angels unite to raise awareness about adoption!

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has featured 3 Angel in Adoption families!  Read below to learn about these families:

  • George and Barbara Kadzis opened their hearts and home to special-needs children adopted from orphanages in China, but the family faced major challenges in their cramped, hurricane-damaged home.
  • Felicia Jackson’s sister passed away with complications of cancer, she told Felicia that she did not  want her children split up. Felicia went from being the mother of 4 to a single mother of 14. Unable to afford and find permanent housing, this family of 15 had been living in a hotel.
  • Billy Jack and Anne Barrett adopted four children, however, in addition to their two biological kids, their small farmhouse was too tight for eight people.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Kristin Chenoweth, Rhea Perlman, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Honored as National Angels in Adoption

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Press Credentials Are Required for Entry to Events

CONGRESSIONAL COALITION RECOGNIZES KRISTIN CHENOWETH, RHEA PERLMAN, AND EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION AS “NATIONAL ANGELS IN ADOPTION™”

Award ceremony in DC October 6

WASHINGTON, DC — The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is hosting its 12th annual Angels in Adoption™ Gala on October 6 in Washington, DC.  The 2010 National Angels in Adoption™ honorees are Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth, Emmy Award winning actress Rhea Perlman, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  Country music artist Jimmy Wayne will perform “Elephant Ears” a song about his experience as a foster child.  These celebrities will join 140 Angels in Adoption™ from across the country who were selected by Members of Congress for their work on behalf of children in need of families.  For a complete list of Angels and their states visit http://bit.ly/bCEMEI.

**FOR ADVANCE INTERVIEWS with Ms. Chenoweth, Ms. Perlman, Mr. Wayne, or the Executive Producer of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, please contact Emily Collins at 202-544-8500 or Emily@ccainstitute.org. **

WHO:

  • Kristin Chenoweth: Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and foster care adoption spokesperson
  • Rhea Perlman: Four-time Emmy Award winning actress and longtime child advocate
  • Jimmy Wayne: Country music singer and songwriter, and former foster youth
  • Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: built numerous homes for foster and adoptive families
  • 140 Angels in Adoption™ nominated by Congress for their work in foster care or adoption

WHAT:

CCAI is presenting awards to national celebrities and individuals from across the country who work to raise awareness about the 423,000 children in foster care and the 143 million orphans around the world.

WHEN and WHERE:

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

10:00am-10:45am:         PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: “ANGEL” FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE PRESENTED WITH AWARDS BY SENATORS LANDRIEU AND CARDIN            Dirksen Senate Building Room SD G-50

6:00pm-7:00pm:               MEDIA AVAILABILITY WITH CELEBRITY HONOREES, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC

7:00pm-9:00pm:               PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: ANGELS IN ADOPTION™ GALA, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC

CONTACT:

For more information about the event, please contact Emily Collins (Emily@ccainstitute.org) or Allison Cappa (Allison@ccainstitute.org) at 202-544-8500.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (www.ccainstitute.org) is a non-profit organization which serves as an educational resource for information critical to advancing the efforts of policymakers on behalf of children in need of families.  Please follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ccainstitute), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ccainstitute), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/ccainstitute), and our blog (https://ccainstitute.wordpress.com).

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