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Angels in - Pound Pup Legacy

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Fund to provide food, childcare, medical,<br />

educational, and humanitarian assistance to children<br />

<strong>in</strong> orphanages. S<strong>in</strong>ce 1995, more than $2 million<br />

has been donated to directly benefit thousands of<br />

children liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> more than 100 hundred<br />

orphanages.<br />

In 2000, Lily and Joshua stepped up their<br />

charitable effort by build<strong>in</strong>g the child-centered Lily<br />

Orphan Care Centers across Ch<strong>in</strong>a. To date, three<br />

centers have been built <strong>in</strong> Hangzhou, Qidong, and<br />

Ful<strong>in</strong>g, and almost 1,000 children have received first<br />

class lov<strong>in</strong>g care. F<strong>in</strong>ally, Lily and Joshua believe that<br />

the f<strong>in</strong>alization of adoption is just the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

CCC’s responsibility. As a result, CCC <strong>in</strong>volves itself<br />

<strong>in</strong> the long term service to the family, especially <strong>in</strong><br />

the area of cultural education. Through this vision,<br />

Lily and Joshua have established the first of its k<strong>in</strong>d,<br />

Joyous Ch<strong>in</strong>ese Cultural Center, which provides<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>ese cultural education, such as dance, music,<br />

art, crafts, Ch<strong>in</strong>ese language, and cook<strong>in</strong>g, to<br />

children and their adoptive parents.<br />

Connecticut<br />

Anthony and Jacquelyn Barrows<br />

Senator Chris Dodd<br />

After rais<strong>in</strong>g their biological children and grandson,<br />

Anthony and Jacquelyn Barrows wanted to give<br />

back to their community by help<strong>in</strong>g children <strong>in</strong><br />

need. Five years ago, they began foster<strong>in</strong>g a sevenyear-old<br />

boy named Coady, and adopted him <strong>in</strong><br />

December of 2001. Jacquelyn, has been a strong<br />

advocate for Coady, work<strong>in</strong>g as a paraprofessional<br />

and substitute teacher for special education <strong>in</strong> the<br />

city of Hartford. Apply<strong>in</strong>g her experience <strong>in</strong> the field<br />

of special education, Jacquelyn and Anthony<br />

worked diligently, search<strong>in</strong>g for an educational<br />

program to met Coady’s needs. After her research,<br />

they decided to enroll him <strong>in</strong> a private school <strong>in</strong><br />

West Hartford, where they are very <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> their<br />

son’s education. In addition to work<strong>in</strong>g together as<br />

a team to provide love and support to Coady,<br />

Anthony and Jacquelyn are also heavily <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong><br />

community-based work, open<strong>in</strong>g their home for<br />

respite foster care and mentor<strong>in</strong>g other adoptive<br />

parents. Jacquelyn leads the foster parent support<br />

group at Casey Family Services <strong>in</strong> Shelton,<br />

Connecticut, where the Barrows are regarded as role<br />

models for foster parents. Currently, the Barrows are<br />

foster<strong>in</strong>g an adolescent boy. They are truly deserv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of the 2003 <strong>Angels</strong> <strong>in</strong> Adoption Award.<br />

Angel Torres<br />

Senator Joseph Lieberman<br />

Angel Torres is committed to Connecticut’s children<br />

and is an asset to the Connecticut Department of<br />

Children and Families (DCF) <strong>in</strong> his role as an<br />

Adoption Resource Specialist. He is an important<br />

resource to the state’s Adoption Resource Exchange<br />

where his expertise is focused on the use of<br />

technology to recruit adoptive families. Mr. Torres’s<br />

efforts have been <strong>in</strong>strumental to br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g<br />

recruitment efforts to a new level.<br />

In addition to his work, he has designed<br />

presentations for the permanency staff and<br />

managers, as well as prospective adoptive families<br />

to enhance such recruitment efforts. Mr. Torres is<br />

enthusiastic, committed, and energized about<br />

help<strong>in</strong>g Connecticut’s children. His unique gift for<br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g strong and positive connections with<br />

people, extends to the wait<strong>in</strong>g children and families<br />

<strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> adoption. Mr. Torres works <strong>in</strong><br />

collaboration with his colleagues to ensure that all<br />

children are provided optimum opportunities to f<strong>in</strong>d<br />

homes of their own. I feel that through Mr. Torres’<br />

accomplishments, he exemplifies the commitment<br />

and dedication of an Angel <strong>in</strong> Adoption and I am<br />

pleased to select him, for the 2003 <strong>Angels</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

Adoption Award.<br />

District of<br />

Columbia<br />

L<strong>in</strong>da Clausen<br />

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton<br />

L<strong>in</strong>da Clausen has been actively engaged <strong>in</strong> all<br />

aspects of adoption <strong>in</strong> the District and the<br />

surround<strong>in</strong>g areas for the past 10 years. As a<br />

volunteer, she represents the District of Columbia<br />

for the American Adoption Congress by monitor<strong>in</strong>g<br />

local, national and <strong>in</strong>ternational legislation, and the<br />

procedures and practices to safeguard the rights<br />

and well-be<strong>in</strong>g of adoptees, birthparents and<br />

adopt<strong>in</strong>g families. Ow<strong>in</strong>g to her expertise <strong>in</strong> this<br />

area, she has been called upon to testify on<br />

important adoption reforms, both <strong>in</strong> the District and<br />

Maryland. Additionally, she has served as the leader<br />

of the local Concerned United Birthmothers (CUB)<br />

local chapter for many years where she provides<br />

k<strong>in</strong>d and thoughtful assistance to those fac<strong>in</strong>g<br />

important family decisions. On many occasions she<br />

16

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