Angels in - Pound Pup Legacy

quick growth for AFTH which has expanded to
include five Pennsylvania offices, in addition to
offices in Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, New
York, Delaware, and Connecticut. AFTH also offers
international adoptions in 10 countries. Her work
has led to the creation of more than 2,700 beautiful
families. Concurrent with Maxine’s passion to
educate the public about adoption, she created a
program for elementary and middle school
personnel to teach students about family diversity.
Her most recent project is opening a non-sectarian
maternity home for women considering adoption.
Susann Hoke
Representative Jim Gerlach
Susann Hoke began her work with the Berks
County, Pennsylvania, Office of Children and Youth
Services in 1982. As a caseworker, she was
increasingly drawn toward adoption cases. Being
promoted in l991 to Supervisor of the Adoption
Unit, Susann has had a direct influence on the
adoption of more than 800 children and has helped
structure the Statewide Adoption Network. Susann
is a caring individual and has given children the
attention and compassion they need. Susann has
also touched the lives of countless children and
ensured these children have found permanent,
reliable families to give them love and support.
Susann is highly regarded by her peers and her
focus is clearly on the needs of children.
Marjorie McKeone
Representative James Greenwood
Marjorie McKeone, throughout her 14-year career
in child welfare, has demonstrated an unwavering
commitment to establishing permanence for
children. She accomplishes this one child at a time,
one family at a time, and one policy at a time. A
Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services
Agency employee since 1989, Ms. McKeone
supervises a five-member adoption unit that
provides comprehensive services to children, birth
and adoptive families. These services are tailored to
meet the needs of individual families in a caring and
compassionate way while striving to ensure that
they meet a standard of unparalleled excellence.
Her philosophy recognizes the need for broadbased
government support in building strong
families through adoption and her practice creates
an environment that nurtures people in pursuit of
parenthood. The Bucks County Children and Youth
Social Services Agency offers services sensitive to
the recognition of infertility; a significant departure
from customary child welfare practice. She is an
advocate, trainer, and volunteer within the public
and private adoption community, and has worked
tirelessly to bridge the gap between these two
disciplines. It is Mrs. McKeone’s commitment to the
children and adoption that energizes her staff, her
colleagues, and her community. I am honored to
select Marjorie McKeone, ACSW, LSW for the 2003
Angels in Adoption award.
Myron and Sally Stoltzfus
Representative Joseph Pitts
Myron and Sally Stoltzfus adopted a 10-year-old girl
from Russia, having biological children ages 10 to
18. Mr. and Mrs. Stoltzfus have found the entire
adoption process to be a tremendous growing
experience for the entire family. It has increased
their faith and has been a real blessing. They believe
they are living out what the Bible says in the book of
James, “to look after the widows and orphans in their
distress.” While adoption may not be for everyone,
the Stoltzfus’s believe that many families are missing
out “big time” on the incredible rewards of adopting.
Their lives have changed forever in a positive way
since their daughter Tania became part of their family.
Kelley Strieb
Representative Melissa Hart
Michael and Kelley Strieb discussed the possibility of
adoption during their first thirteen years of marriage
but that dream did not become a reality until
August 27, 2000 when they welcomed their baby
daughter home from China. Kelly is the co-chair of
the adoption ministry at her church, which gives her
the opportunity to educate people about both
domestic and international adoption, as well as to
mentor families during the adoption process. The
seminars she conducts are free, open to the public,
and extensive – lasting about five hours. Kelley also
speaks at various civic organizations on adoption
and her own adoption experience. She devotes
much of her volunteer time counseling families
throughout the adoption. She always makes herself
available to help offer a kind ear or words of
encouragement. She has already served as an angel
to the families she has helped, but now it is my
honor to name her my 2003 Angel in Adoption for
her kind and dedicated work.
Three Rivers Adoption Council
Representative Mike Doyle
The mission of Three Rivers Adoption Council
(TRAC) is to improve adoption opportunities for all
children growing up without permanent caring
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