Save the Date: 10th Annual National Adoption Day Set for Nov. 21

Communities nationwide will celebrate the adoption of 4,500 children from
foster care

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- National Adoption Day 2009 will be
Saturday, November 21. Celebrated across the United States, more than 350
community events are held each year to finalize the adoptions of children in
foster care and celebrate all families who adopt.

Celebrating its 10th year, National Adoption Day includes courtroom hearings
to finalize the adoptions of more than 4,500 children from U.S. foster care
and to celebrate all adoptions. Thanks to the efforts of adoption advocates,
policymakers, judges and lawyers, a total of more than 25,000 children have
been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day during the last 10
years.

"There are 129,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving
families. It is unacceptable that any child should miss out on a safe, loving
and permanent home," said Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas
Foundation for Adoption and member of the National Adoption Day Coalition.
"National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness
around foster care and adoption, and a very important way we help improve the
lives of children in foster care around the country."

Examples of the hundreds of events on National Adoption Day 2009 include:

-- Los Angeles - The 10th annual National Adoption Day at Children's
Court
will kick-off with a national press conference on Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.,
led
by Presiding Judge Michael Nash and actress/adoptive parent Nia
Vardalos, followed by adoption finalization hearings for more than 200
foster children.

-- Atlanta - Actress, author, activist, and former foster care child
Victoria Rowell will share her experience as Chief Judge Belinda
Edwards
oversees adoption finalization hearings for 30 foster children.

-- Phoenix - The largest celebration in the United States last year, the
Juvenile Court Center Durango Facility anticipates finalizing 225
children's adoptions this year.

-- St. Tammany Parish - U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) will lend her
support during the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana National Adoption Day
event.

"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. By working with law firms, state foster care
agencies, child advocates and courts, we were able to complete hundreds of
foster care adoptions in nine jurisdictions nationwide our first year. It
quickly grew to 17 jurisdictions in 2001, and today, 10 years later, we have
more than 300 celebrations in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico and Guam," said
Renette Oklewicz, senior manager, Freddie Mac Foundation and member of the
National Adoption Day Coalition.

For more information about the events taking place locally and foster care
adoption, please visit www.nationaladoptionday.org.

National Adoption Day Coalition Partners

The Alliance for Children's Rights - The Alliance for Children's Rights is Los
Angeles' only free legal services organization devoted solely to helping
children living in poverty and foster care. The Alliance's mission is to
ensure children get the support and services they need to become healthy,
productive adults. Since 1992, The Alliance has worked together with the Los
Angeles Juvenile Court and the Department of Children and Family Services to
expedite and increase the number of children adopted from Los Angeles foster
care.

Casey Family Services - Casey Family Services is the direct service agency of
the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the nation's largest private foundation serving
fragile U.S. children, families and communities, started by United Parcel
Service founder Jim Casey. Casey Family Services has worked with foster and
adoptive families for nearly 30 years and is dedicated to helping build better
futures for disadvantaged children here in the United States.

Children's Action Network - Formed in 1990 by leaders in the entertainment
industry, the Children's Action Network (CAN) is dedicated to improving the
lives of America's children. Through extensive public education campaigns,
community-based programs and policy initiatives, CAN uses the power of the
entertainment community to increase awareness about children's issues and make
them a top priority in everyday life.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute - The Congressional
Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization dedicated to raising awareness about children in need of
permanent, safe, and loving homes; and to eliminating the barriers that hinder
these children from realizing their basic need of a family. CCAI serves as an
informational and educational resource to policymakers as they seek to draft
positive adoption legislation and to focusing public attention on the
advantages of adoption.

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption - The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing
the adoptions of the more than 150,000 children waiting in North America's
foster care systems. Created by Wendy's® founder, Dave Thomas, who was
adopted, the Foundation implements results-driven national signature programs,
foster care adoption awareness initiatives and research-based advocacy
efforts. To learn more, visit www.DaveThomasFoundation.org or call
1-800-ASK-DTFA.

Freddie Mac Foundation - Created by Freddie Mac in 1991, the Freddie Mac
Foundation is dedicated to making home a place where children and families
thrive. As the largest corporate funder in the Washington, DC metropolitan
area, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have invested more than $348
million in organizations serving the community.

SOURCE National Adoption Day Coalition Partners

Brynn Burton, +1-614-224-8114 Ext. 279, C: +1-440-667-1614,
bburton@paulwerth.com, or Megan Shroy, +1-614-224-8114 Ext. 276,
mshroy@paulwerth.com, both of Paul Werth Associates Inc.