3,000 Adoptions Finalized During Foundation-Sponsored National Adoption Day

On National Adoption Day, November 22, the dream of a permanent family of their own became a reality for thousands of foster children across the nation, as courts in cities all over the country open their doors to finalize more than 3,000 adoptions of children in foster care.

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 3rd year in a row.

As lead sponsor of the event, the Freddie Mac Foundation was present in key cities to emphasize 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.

In events in New York and Washington, D.C., the Foundation was joined by members of Congress, local leaders, celebrities and sports figures. At the Queens County New York Family Court, Foundation Director of Giving Cheryl Clarke joined actor Bruce Willis—who serves as National Spokesperson for Children in Foster Care—in kicking off festivities that continued throughout the day in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Los Angeles and many other communities.

"Young people who have been waiting in foster care—sometimes for years—can go to bed tonight knowing they finally have the permanent, loving families they so deserve," Cheryl told attendees. "And just in time for Thanksgiving Dinner. I say that's an excellent way to start the holiday season."

Recognizing the critical contributions of the judges, court staffs, lawyers and countless other child advocates, Cheryl added that the real heroes of the day are all the adoptive moms, dads and children. "This day is to celebrate you," she told those families.

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 five major cities, including Washington, DC; New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The program finds homes for foster children and raises awareness of the need for adoptive homes. To date, we have committed more than $10 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 Alliance for Children's Rights, Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Target Corporation.