Maryland Judiciary Press Release

Baltimore County joins in celebration of “National Adoption Day”

(TOWSON, MD — November 8, 2005) Several children in Baltimore County will realize and celebrate their dream of being part of a permanent family as their adoptions are finalized during a celebration Saturday, Nov. 19, as part of National Adoption Day.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge John O. Hennegan will finalize several adoptions as part of the event, organized through a collaborative effort with the Baltimore County Bar Association, and its President, Dominick A. Garcia, Esq. The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Ceremonial Courtroom No. 5 at the Old Courthouse, 400 Washington Avenue in Towson. Similar events are taking place across the country, as courts will open their doors to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care and through private agencies.

“This is a celebration of adoptive families and recognizes the need for more families to adopt children that don’t have parents,” said Judge Hennegan, the father of an adoptive son himself.

Family-court judges, pro bono lawyers, foster care professionals, child advocates and community volunteers, along with recently adopted children and their families will also be there, working together to celebrate the adoption process. Activities following the adoptions will include a luncheon with speakers, gifts for the adopted children and their families, raffles with prizes, games, and other activities for children.

National Adoption Day serves to increase awareness of the ever-growing need for loving, adoptive families for the 126,000 children nationwide who are waiting in foster care. As of July 2005, 690 children in Maryland were available for adoption. Since 1998, 353 adoptions – for 176 boys and 177 girls – have been finalized in Baltimore County.

Members of the media are invited to attend. If you want to bring a camera, please call the Court Information Office at 410-260-1488. For more information, please contact Craig J. Little, Esq., at the Baltimore County Bar Association at 410-828-6100 or the Court Information Office at 410-260-1488.

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Court Information Office Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building 361 Rowe Boulevard Annapolis, Maryland 410-260-1488
For Immediate Release	CONTACT:	Rita Buettner 410-260-1488 Sally Rankin 410-260-1488
Baltimore County joins in celebration of “National Adoption Day” (TOWSON, MD — November 8, 2005) Several children in Baltimore County will realize and celebrate their dream of being part of a permanent family as their adoptions are finalized during a celebration Saturday, Nov. 19, as part of National Adoption Day. Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge John O. Hennegan will finalize several adoptions as part of the event, organized through a collaborative effort with the Baltimore County Bar Association, and its President, Dominick A. Garcia, Esq. The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Ceremonial Courtroom No. 5 at the Old Courthouse, 400 Washington Avenue in Towson. Similar events are taking place across the country, as courts will open their doors to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care and through private agencies. “This is a celebration of adoptive families and recognizes the need for more families to adopt children that don’t have parents,” said Judge Hennegan, the father of an adoptive son himself. Family-court judges, pro bono lawyers, foster care professionals, child advocates and community volunteers, along with recently adopted children and their families will also be there, working together to celebrate the adoption process. Activities following the adoptions will include a luncheon with speakers, gifts for the adopted children and their families, raffles with prizes, games, and other activities for children. National Adoption Day serves to increase awareness of the ever-growing need for loving, adoptive families for the 126,000 children nationwide who are waiting in foster care. As of July 2005, 690 children in Maryland were available for adoption. Since 1998, 353 adoptions – for 176 boys and 177 girls – have been finalized in Baltimore County. Members of the media are invited to attend. If you want to bring a camera, please call the Court Information Office at 410-260-1488. For more information, please contact Craig J. Little, Esq., at the Baltimore County Bar Association at 410-828-6100 or the Court Information Office at 410-260-1488. # # # # #