National Adoption Day Celebrates Milestone in Number of Adopted Children

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2010, 4,800 children from foster care found their forever families during the 11th Annual National Adoption Day on Nov. 20. After more than a decade, the number of children in foster care adopted on National Adoption Day totals nearly 35,000.

National Adoption Day started in 2000 when a coalition of adoption advocacy groups partnered together to take the Los Angeles "Adoption Saturday" model and make it a national event.

"Each year 114,000 children in foster care are eligible for adoption," said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., president and CEO of the Freddie Mac Foundation, a member of the National Adoption Day Coalition, and father to a child he and his wife adopted from foster care. "On one single day for the last 11 years, the lives of thousands of children in foster care have been forever changed. That day is National Adoption Day."

The first National Adoption Day was held on Nov. 20, 2000 in six states and Washington, D.C. That year 1,100 children in foster care were adopted. Over the next 10 years, the number gradually rose to include more than 4,800 children in approximately 400 cities being adopted in 2010.

"We believe that each year, significantly more Americans understand that thousands of our children are waiting in foster care for adoptive families and homes," said Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a member of the National Adoption Day Coalition. "Americans are developing a deeper understanding that many more people, even those in nontraditional families, can adopt."

"Far too many children are still waiting in foster care for families to adopt them," says Janis Spire, CEO and president of The Alliance for Children's Rights, a member of the National Adoption Day Coalition, "We are thrilled that the trend over the past four years has been an increase in the number of foster care adoptions. This is proof that National Adoption Day is succeeding in highlighting the need for even more adoptive families to help provide a brighter future for our foster children, addressing the sometimes negative myths and breaking down barriers associated with adoption."

Events took place across the country celebrating adoption. For example, in Los Angeles, the National Adoption Day founding city, an estimated 130 children in foster care were adopted on just one day. The event featured National Adoption Day spokesperson, actress Nia Vardalos, celebrities, adoptive families and a family-focused entertainment.

To read the complete news release, visit: http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/media-center/news/2010-11-29/national-adoption-day-celebrates-milestone-in-number-of-adopted-children

About the National Adoption Day Coalition

National Adoption Day is sponsored by a coalition dedicated to improving the lives of children, including The Alliance for Children's Rights, The Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Freddie Mac Foundation.

SOURCE National Adoption Day Coalition