Saturday, November 17th, marks the 13th annual National Adoption Day, a day that highlights National Adoption Month in November. Since its inception in 2000, over 40,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day, which is always designated as the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The day was established thanks to Alliance for Children’s Rights and among those that supported it and were responsible for getting it off the ground were the mortgage corporation Freddie Mac Foundation and the Dave Thomas Foundation, established by Wendy’s fast-food chain founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted as a child.
Last year close to 4,800 children were adopted on National Adoption Day, though specific number goals are not set for National Adoption Day. Among the goals of the event are finalizing adoptions from foster care in all 50 states, raising awareness of the over 100,000 children in foster care waiting for adoption, and celebrating and honoring the families that do decide to adopt.
If you are interested in learning more about adoption locally you can contact Abby’s One Time Gift Adoptions in Waukee at (515) 987-0565, About a Child in West Des Moines at (515) 221-2231 or Graceful Adoptions in West Des Moines at (515) 225-6351.