On Friday, November 7, from 6 - 9 p.m., the Fairfax County Department of Family Services "Rolled out the Red Carpet" in honor of adoptive families as part of the National Adoption Awareness Month. The celebration took place at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035). The pubilc was invited to join Fairfax County adoptive families in the celebration.
The celebration recognized two adopted youth who have made significant achievements in their adoptive placements. The celebration also highlighted the musical and artistic talents of adopted children. In addition, professional photographs were taken and provided to all adoptive families in attendance.
This year’s guest speaker was Krystle Lofton. Lofton was an adopted child who has gone on to become a published poet and singer who performed at the 1997 Presidential Inauguration, at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2000, as well as at the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in Madrid, Spain and on Black Entertainment Television.
National Adoption Awareness Month began in 1976 when former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis proclaimed Adoption Week in an effort to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in foster care. The effort went national shortly after that when former President Gerald Ford made the first National Adoption Week proclamation. In 1990 the week was expanded to a month. Locally, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services is committed to helping children in Fairfax County's foster care system find permanent homes.
The First Lady of Virginia, Ms. Anne Holton is a strong supporter of National Adoption Awareness Month. She established the "For Keeps" initiative - a statewide effort to help find permanent families for older children in foster care.