Foundation Helps Finalize 3,400 Adoptions on National Adoption Day

November 30, 2004 — On National Adoption Day, November 20, more than 3,400 children saw their dream of a permanent family of their own became a reality, as courts in communities all over the country opened their doors to finalize their adoptions into loving families.

9-year-old Antonio looks on as dad Armand Guevremont takes possession of signed adoption papers.

With nearly 600,000 children in foster care nationwide and 126,000 of those available for adoption, the Freddie Mac Foundation has made finding permanent, loving homes for these children one of its highest priorities by sponsoring National Adoption Day for the 4th year in a row.

National Adoption Day events took place in more than 130 courthouses across the country, including in Washington, D.C., where 30 children were united with their "forever families." Addressing the families, volunteers, local leaders and members of Congress – including D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.

As a lead sponsor of the national celebration, the Freddie Mac Foundation emphasized the importance of the role of the courts, advocates and adoptive families in providing permanency for foster children in need of loving and safe homes. Throughout the country, we were joined by social workers, families, children, attorneys and judges assembled to help speed up the legal process for adoption, which can often take months. All in all, National Adoption Day celebrations took place in 37 states and 200 communities.

Mary Tyson holds daughter Joyann Tyson age 5 while grandmother Theresa Bakersmith looks on from behind.

Another key way we help children in foster care is by supporting Wednesday's Child, our national program to increase adoptions. Wednesday's Child is the televised adoption program running in six major cities, including Washington, DC; New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. The program finds homes for foster children and raises awareness of the need for adoptive homes. To date, we have committed nearly $13 million to this program nationally.

National Adoption Day events were sponsored by a coalition dedicated to improving the lives of children. In addition to the Freddie Mac Foundation, the coalition includes: the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Target Corporation, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Casey Family Programs, Children’s Action Network and the Alliance for Children’s Rights.