(UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – November 8, 2017) Bright smiles and big hearts will fill the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County on Thursday, November 16, 2017 as families and friends gather to celebrate the union of new and returning adoptive families. Since January 2017, the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County has finalized more than 50 adoptions.
The ceremony, in recognition of National Adoption Day, will be held at the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, 14735 Main St., Upper Marlboro, Courtroom M3400 at 10:30 a.m. Presiding will be Honorable Sheila R. Tillerson Adams, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Honorable Beverly J. Woodard and Honorable DaNeeka V. Cotton.
“National Adoption Day at the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County is truly a memorable event,” says Judge Adams. “There is no greater gift for a child than a loving home and no greater gift for a parent than a happy child. I would like to thank Judge Woodard and her team for overseeing this meaningful celebration and extend a warm congratulations to the new families.”
This year’s speakers will be Kevin and Brittney Borders who are parents of an adopted child and Ms. Kristina Lyles, 22, who is the daughter of Joseph and Kimberly Lyles. Additionally, the Lyles’ are parents of two adopted children.
“Each year, I look forward to this joyous occasion,” adds Judge Woodard. “As the mother of an adopted daughter, I understand the importance of providing a home to children in foster care and the resounding impact it has on a child’s life. I encourage more people to consider adoption as the sheer joy of loving a child is beyond measure.”
National Adoption Day, which formally became National Adoption Awareness Month in November 1995, “is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the more than 110,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. In 2016, approximately 4,700 children were adopted by their forever families during the 17th annual National Adoption Day celebration in more than 400 cities across the United States,” according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. ##