South Coastal

National Adoption Day

Adoptive families, adoption supporters, government officials, volunteers and child advocates celebrated National Adoption Day in Palm Beach County Friday November 18, 2011. Chaired by Linda Norris and Stephen Bardy, the event recognized and honored 18 boys and girls ranging in age from 6 months to 13 years who officially joined their very own ‘forever families’ through adoption. “National Adoption Day is my favorite day of the year as it represents hope for children who need a safe, stable, nurturing home and, most importantly, a family,” said Stephen Bardy, Executive Director of the South Coastal Division of Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS).

November is National Adoption Month. Its purpose is to acknowledge and honor the loving embrace of adoptive parents who have opened their hearts and homes to children and youth in need.

This year, participating families enjoyed lunch provided by Chick Fil-A, Papa John's Pizza and Costco. Families could also have caricatures done by Captain Cartoon, and parents and kids alike had their faces painted and were adorned with wearable balloon art by the Krackerjack Clowns.

The ceremony was presided over by Judge Karen Martin, who commended each adoptive family and child. Former WPTV news anchor Jim Sackett presented the Jim Sackett Adoption Advocate Award to Marlene and John Horne. For more than seven years, the Hornes have been loving foster parents to nearly two dozen children, a number of them with severe medical and emotional needs. They are parents of Marci, Bella and Timothy, whom they adopted from foster care, and are legal guardians of Morris, who was medically fragile and is now thriving in their care. On this National Adoption Day they also became new parents to sisters Chinelle (age 6) and Zarriah (age 4). The event also received a special visit from Miss Florida USA, Karina Brez, who lives in Wellington.

Professional photographers Frank Donnino, Lori Griffith, Andrea Graeve and David Crown donated their services to commemorate the celebration.

For several years, the National Adoption Day celebration has been organized by a group of local organizations, including Child and Family Connections, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Clerk of the Court, Department of Children & Families, Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Foster Children’s Project, Guardian ad Litem Program, Legal Aid Society, Palm Beach County Bar Association and Place of Hope.

Statewide, CHS finalized 841 adoptions during the 2010-2011 fiscal year, bringing the organization’s total number of adoptions to more than 37,000 since its inception in 1902.

Learn more about adoption.

No clients shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Clients needing accommodations for a disability and/or clients with special communications needs should contact their Children’s Home Society of Florida worker or make their request for accommodation at the time of admission into a Children’s Home Society of Florida program.

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, REGISTRATION #CH180, IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE UNDER THE SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.