Angels in - Pound Pup Legacy

Minnesota
Becky and Gladys Abbott
Representative James L. Oberstar
I have seen many families in my congressional
district in Minnesota that have been touched by
adoption, and I am delighted to recognize one of
my constituents. Gladys Abbott from Pine City,
Minnesota brought to my attention the difficulties
that her daughter, Becky was having with her
adoption in Guatemala. Because of her concern
regarding the treatment of U.S. families seeking to
adopt from Guatemala, Gladys wrote to me to
voice her support for her daughter and for these
families. Through her advocacy, Gladys has
demonstrated that motivated citizens can make a
difference to promote adoption. It is for this reason
that I am pleased to recognize Gladys and Becky
Abbott for their dedication to adoption.
Susan Freivalds
Representative Martin Sabo
Minneapolis resident Susan Freivalds has been a
long-time advocate for adoptive families and is well
known in the international adoption community;
first for her role in founding Adoptive Families
magazine, formerly known as Ours, and next as
executive director of the national non-profit
organization, Adoptive Families of America. She
currently serves as an advisor to the magazine.
The work of this organization during her tenure
was instrumental in both the policy arena and in
helping thousands of families build their families
through adoption and raise healthy, productive
citizens. Her advocacy work has been important in
passing the income tax credit for adoption
expenses, health benefits for adoptive families, and
adoption benefits for families in the work place.
She has been instrumental in supporting
numerous legislative initiatives that focused on
bettering adoption policy and practice as well as the
evolution during the last decade toward
abbreviating the time children spend in foster care.
In the international arena, she served as a U.S.
delegate to meetings and negotiations concerning
The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption
where she represented adoptive families. Her role as
a delegate led her to testify at numerous
congressional hearings on this convention adding to
her already considerable reputation as an important
resource for policy makers and media on child
welfare and adoption issues. For her unceasing
efforts on behalf of adoptive families during the
past few decades, she is well deserving of being my
2003 Angel in Adoption .
Larry and Arlyce Morrell
Representative Mark Kennedy
Larry and Arlyce Morrell are shining lights to dozens
of children who would have otherwise faced tough
challenges early in life. Between November 1981
and November 1999, the Morrells opened their
home and their hearts to 54 foster children by
providing a loving, caring, and stable home. In
addition, the Morrells have six biological children
and continue to keep in contact with many of the
foster children who may have passed through their
home but remain a part of their lives.
The Morrells were instrumental in expanding a
fundraising network of individual donors to enable
NLFS to continue serving as a crisis pregnancy
center, and provide adoption and foster care
services. For more than 15 years, they have worked
tirelessly to improve the lives of foster children by
volunteering at the NLFS taco stand, state fair
booth, the annual banquet, and other events. As a
result of their efforts, countless children have been
blessed with a second chance and the opportunity
to live a better life filled with love and compassion.
North American Council on
Adoptable Children
Representative Betty McCollum
The North American Council on Adoptable Children
(NACAC), located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is one of
the most important resources this nation has in the
adoption and child welfare community. This nonprofit
organization supports adoptive parents;
promotes adoption awareness; and works to find
children their forever families. In addition, NACAC
serves parents and professionals throughout the
United States and Canada, by publishing materials,
conducting training, advocating for system change
through legislation and practice, promoting better
policy and practice and providing adoption support.
In Minnesota, NACAC recruits foster and adoptive
parents and provides peer support to adoptive
families through parent groups and their network of
11 adoptive parent liaisons. NACAC’s work is
instrumental in creating and supporting successful
adoptive and foster families throughout the nation.
Its body of work makes it ideal for naming it A
2003 Angel in Adoption .
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