MEDIA ADVISORY – DECEMBER 18, 2018

CONGRESSIONAL COALITION ON ADOPTION INSTITUTE NAMES SENATOR MARY LANDRIEU AS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec 18, 2018 – The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) announced that former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu has agreed to rejoin the Board of Directors and has been elected Chair.

During her three terms in the United States Senate, Senator Landrieu was known as the champion of adoption and children in need of families. She helped to establish and co-chair the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and, in that capacity, led dozens of congressional delegations both domestically and internationally that focused on child welfare and permanency for children.  In addition, she worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass significant and transformative legislation that has improved the process and outcomes for children in foster care here at home and for orphans around the world.

“We are thrilled that Senator Landrieu has agreed to rejoin the Board of Directors as Chair. There is no more qualified or passionate leader to help move CCAI into this next chapter,” said Susan Neely, CCAI Board Vice President and President and CEO of American Council of Life Insurers. “As an original founder of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, Senator Landrieu championed the issues of adoption and vulnerable children with tireless dedication and helped elevate these issues in Congress in an unprecedented way. We are confident that she will continue to do so as CCAI Board President and we are so grateful for her willingness to serve in this capacity.”

“I am looking forward to working closely with our new Interim Director, our Board members, Advisory Board members, many donors and friends to continue the important work of CCAI in the years to come,” said Senator Landrieu.

With the addition of Senator Landrieu, Senior Policy Advisor for Van Ness Feldman, current CCAI Board of Directors are: Susan Neely of the American Council of Life Insurers, Russell Sullivan of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Brad Bondi of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, Susan Hirschmann of Williams & Jensen, and Korie and Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty.

“We welcome Senator Landrieu to a dedicated and talented board,” said Bethany Haley, Interim Executive Director of CCAI. “We truly look forward to the many ways we will benefit from her leadership, expertise and passion for the world’s vulnerable children.”

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The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of children around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family.

 For more information or to learn more about the work of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, visit www.ccainstitute.org or contact Bethany Haley at bethany@ccainstitute.org or 202.544.8500.