N.C. Adoption Hotline open during CBS show
“
A Home for the Holidays,” airing Wednesday, highlights the joys
of adoption
RALEIGH – As most Americans prepare to celebrate
the holidays with their families, more than 850 children in North Carolina
have no family plans. They are waiting to be adopted. They are among
119,000 foster children in the United States who need adoptive families.
The National Adoption Campaign – a partnership of the Dave Thomas
Foundation for Adoption and the Children’s Action Network – will
air the seventh annual CBS-TV special, A Home for the Holidays, on
Wednesday at 8 p.m. The show raises awareness about children who need
permanent families and encourages Americans to consider adopting from
the foster care system.
Among the show’s feature stories are Nancy and Lynn Bennett
of Clemmons, N.C., who were moved to adopt two children after the show
aired in 1999. The Bennetts had already raised two birth children to
adulthood before adopting the two girls, ages 3 and 5 at the time.
Diana is now 8 and Sindy (CQ) is 10. The special will also feature
inspirational stories of waiting children, and performances by top
Hollywood actors and musicians including Sheryl Crow and the Goo Goo
Dolls.
“A Home for the Holidays provides an opportunity for Americans
to see first-hand the joys of adopting children,” says Rita Soronen,
executive director of the Thomas Foundation. “A survey of people
who watched past shows found that more than 6 percent of respondents
went on to adopt a child,” Soronen said.
“Each year, A Home for the Holidays is extremely effective in
increasing adoption awareness and spurring people to action,” said
Jennifer Perry, executive director of the Children’s Action Network. “We
look forward to even more success this year.” Leaders in the
entertainment industry founded the Children’s Action Network
in 1990 to harness the power of the entertainment media on behalf of
children.
N.C. Kids Adoption and Foster Care Network, the state coordinator
for A Home for the Holidays program, serves as a statewide, comprehensive
resource for interested parties regarding foster care and the adoption
process. N.C. Kids Adoption and Foster Care Network seeks to ultimately
improve the placement outcomes for the children of North Carolina awaiting
adoption. NC Kids routinely offers a call center Monday through Saturday
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to answer questions and provide information on adoption
and foster care. The call center will operate on Wednesday during the
broadcast. The number is: 877-625-4371.
Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, was adopted as a child and
created the adoption foundation in 1992 with the vision that every
child deserves a permanent home and loving family. The foundation focuses
on increasing adoption awareness and supporting model adoption service
programs that find permanent homes and loving families for foster children
who have been freed for adoption. Leaders in the entertainment industry
founded the Children’s Action Network in 1990 to harness the
power of the entertainment media on behalf of children.
For more information on foster care and adoption call (877) 625-4371;
or visit www.adoptnckids.org.
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