WH family takes part in National Adoption Day

Chloe receives her gift bag at the National Adoption Day celebration. Chloe was adopted by a Whitehouse family.

TYLER - Local efforts corresponding to National Adoption Day took place recently, with a celebration at the Caldwell Zoo Pavilion in Tyler.

After finalizing adoptions at the cour thouse, the Smith County Young Lawyers Association (SCYLA) hosted a celebration for area adoptive families.

The Thompson family of Whitehouse adopted a little girl.

"We are thrilled to be blessed. It's a joy to be Chloe's forever family," said Gwen Thompson.

Local judges, attorneys, politicians and caseworkers celebrated the adoption of 12 children with their new families. Each child received a gift bag including a gift card courtesy of Wal-Mart and a photo frame to commemorate the day.

Matt Rowan, President of the SCYLA said, "In your bag is an incomplete gift, an empty photo frame. Today, we'll be taking portraits of your new forever families to fill those frames. We're thrilled that we are able to see twice as many children adopted on this special day as last year. Today is truly a wonderful culmination of months of work by many, many people."

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the 114,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families.

For the last eight years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.

Numerous volunteers were recognized near photos from the East Texas Heart Gallery. As part of the celebration the Tyler Fire Department entertained the children by showing the equipment of a fire truck.

"We are very grateful for the work of Judge Carole Clark, Department of Family Protective Ser vices, The Children's Advocacy Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and all of those who have supported, helped, and assisted children and families in need of adoption in and around Smith County," said Rowan. "They do a great job, often out of the view of the public, and they deserve commendation for all of their work. We're proud to be able to assist such a noble cause."