Press Release: CCAI Honors National Angels October 6th

***PRESS RELEASE*** 

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

Award Ceremony Honors Those Who’ve Helped Children through Adoption and Foster Care

WASHINGTON, DC — The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) hosted its 12th Annual Angels in Adoption™ Gala on October 6 in Washington, DC.  The gala highlights the work of celebrities and individuals across the country working tirelessly on behalf of children in U.S. foster care and orphans around the world.  2010 National Angels in Adoption™ honorees include Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth, Four-time Emmy Award winning actress Rhea Perlman and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Members of Congress presented these awards and praised the National Angels for using their celebrity and influence to bring awareness about children in need of families.

Also recognized were the 140 Angels in Adoption™ who were selected by their Member of Congress and came to DC from across the country for this program.  2010 Angel in Adoption™, Martha Allen of California, said of attending the event, “I’m looking forward to coming home full of ideas, inspiration and awe after hearing about each Angel and the wonderful things they have accomplished.”  For a complete list of Angels and their states visit http://bit.ly/bCEMEI.

As part of the event, Country music artist Jimmy Wayne performed his song “Elephant Ears” about his own experience as a foster child.  He shared, “One of the great things about the Angels in Adoption™ program is the level of awareness it  brings to an option people don’t always consider, and that’s adopting a child or teen who is in the Foster Care system.  There are so many kids there, just waiting for a loving family to give them a home.”

Kristin Chenoweth was honored for her willingness to use her own personal story to raise awareness about adoption and the importance of individuals stepping forward to impact the lives of children. “Being adopted myself,” says Chenoweth, “I understand what impact adoption has on the life of a child. I was lucky that my parents gave me unconditional love and support, and I don’t think I would be where I am today without them.”

Over the years, Rhea Perlman played an important role in the media and television industry’s advocacy for improvements to foster care, and in particular the need for reform throughout California.  There are over 67,000 children in the California alone, accounting for one-eighth of all children in the U.S. foster care system.  She is also outspoken about adoption for older youth in care.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was awarded for its efforts to feature foster and adoptive families on their show, thereby raising awareness of the needs of waiting children and the joy adoption can bring to a family.  Since the show began, there have been three Angel in Adoption™ families, from various parts of the country, featured on the show.  “We are honored to receive this award for the 33 episodes in which we presented homes to adoptive or foster families. While our efforts to provide these families a beautiful new home are intended to make a difference in their lives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is pleased to learn that these episodes are also making a difference in the fight for every children in the world to have a safe and loving home of their own,” says the show’s Executive Producer, Diane Korman.

Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director of CCAI states, “Statistically speaking, it is possible for each and every child to have a safe and permanent family to call their own.  Because of Angels celebrated by this program, we are much closer to achieving that goal. Almost across the board, each Angel’s extraordinary journey started with a single step forward – saying count me in.”

CONTACT:

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

CCAI (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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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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Foster youth speak out on Dr. Phil Show tomorrow

Two of CCAI’s 2010 Foster Youth Interns, Sam Martin and Wendy Ruiz will appear along with Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on the Dr. Phil Show tomorrow, Friday, October 1st.  The show will focus on the need to improve outcomes of older youth in care and those aging out to live on their own without the necessary supports.  Be sure to tune in!  Check your local listings here.

The show’s website gives a preview of tomorrow’s show:

No Child Forgotten

There are hundreds of thousands of children in foster care right now. Many are the silent victims of abuse and neglect, spending their entire childhoods being tossed from house to house, slipping through the cracks in the foster care system. Dr. Phil gives a voice to the children who feel thrown away and unloved. Find out how you can help a child in need! And, Cindy and Mick are well-intended parents of adopted sisters, Danielle, 13, and Marie, 11. They say they struggle to parent their oldest daughter, who lies and is very angry. Dr. Phil gives a powerful demonstration of what it’s like for kids in foster care, and what they deal with even after they are placed in a permanent, loving home. Then, meet Stacy, 19, who entered foster care at 10 and endured years of horrific abuse before aging out of the system at 18. She struggles to find resources to help her in college. Dr. Phil has several amazing surprises for the teen! And, Dr. Phil and Robin are national spokespersons for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Learn how to become a CASA and help change a child’s life!

Ethiopia Travel Diary: Day 2, Bantu

The day after we toured several sites in Addis Ababa and met with various U.S. and other government leaders, we headed out to spend the beginning of our second full day on the ground in a rural area named Bantu – the home area of Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis.

Our delegation arrived to the Buckner Bright Hope School in Bantu to find the 400 school children and many of their families and members of the Bantu community were also there to greet us.  The children were singing “Welcome, welcome,” and clapping when we arrived.

A local Ethiopian Orthodox Church choir performed a traditional and ancient song and dance, and then Senator Landrieu, Ambassador Jacobs, and Gary Newton spoke briefly with community elders.

Then our entire group visited some of the school’s classrooms and watched a few demonstrations of the children’s math and English-speaking skills.

It was very interesting to me to note how the school is now the focal point of the community of Bantu.  The school actually feeds the children who attend two meals a day and provides them stipends for uniforms.  At one point, I asked the Director of Buckner Bright Hope, Getahun Tesema, how many sibling groups attend the school, and he told me that only one child from each family in the community is able to attend because parents are unwilling to send all their children away from their housework.  I then asked Getahun how the school staff choose which child from a family to attend – Did they select the oldest? Youngest? Smartest? He explained to that they choose the weakest and most malnourished child in the family so they are fed the two daily meals the school offers and thus have a better chance of surviving childhood.  It was a humbling reminder to me of the vast needs families in Ethiopia face, that the school would use malnutrition as it’s guiding factor in approaching enrollment.

Watch footage from the educational stability press conference

The footage from the Sept. 23rd press conference on educational stability for foster youth including Sen. Grassley, Rep. McDermott, and Rep. Bachmann, with ‘DC Real Housewife’ Stacie Scott Turner and former foster youth is available at:

http://www.vimeo.com/15259978

Click here to visit our recent post featuring pictures and the press release.