Angels in - Pound Pup Legacy

Claude and Bernadette Whatley
Representative Jim Cooper
Claude and Bernadette Whatley are residents of
Nashville, Tennessee, where Claude works for U.S.
Bank and Bernadette is a pre-K teacher with the
local Head Start Program. They have two children
who arrived through adoption: a son LaQuan, who
is now six, and a daughter Kaneisha, who is now
five. They were forced to wait through the long,
frustrating, adoption process, but in the end, they
realized that waiting period is necessary because it
helps the adopting parents become more prepared
to receive a child into their home.
For Claude, one of the most rewarding parts of
being a father is coming home at night to the
exciting greeting of his children who show their
love for him freely. The Whatleys are not only
adoptive parents, but are excellent adoption
advocates. Claude took the initiative to write a
letter to the editor of the local newspaper to
advocate for the older children in our country who
desperately need homes. He promises “that once
they adopt an older child, that child will love them
just as much as a newborn or probably more
because they finally have a home to call their own
with parents who truly love them.” Moreover,
Claude wants people to realize that, “The child of
their dreams could be up the street, and they just
don’t know it because of their own prejudice.” The
Whatleys freely share their adoption experiences
with friends and co-workers and try to encourage
others to adopt, knowing full well the benefits for
both the parents and the child. It is with great
pleasure that I recognize Claude and Bernadette
Whatley who are not only outstanding parents but
strong advocates for adoption.
Pamela Wolf
Representative John Duncan, Jr.
Pam Wolf is not only an adoptive mother, she is one
of East Tennessee’s most outstanding adoption
advocates. In 1996, two years after bringing her
daughter home from China, Wolf created Harmony
Adoptions in Maryville, Tennessee. Using her degree
in clinical social work, Mrs. Wolf not only finds
loving homes for children from all over the world,
but also offers education to adoptive parents
throughout the entire state. Since its creation seven
years ago, Harmony has helped place thousands of
children in safe, caring homes. Wolf has designed a
unique step-by-step program that assists parents
not only in the emotional rigors of adoption, but
also in paperwork and general adoption
preparation. In addition, she provides programs for
pregnant women wishing to make an adoption plan
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for their children. Pam worked tirelessly to make
Harmony Adoptions a successful agency, while
holding several part-time jobs and raising her own
child. Throughout the years, Mrs. Wolf has written
grants to benefit Harmony Adoptions and to create
neighborhood programs in East Tennessee which
serve as resources for prospective and adoptive
parents. It is with much respect and admiration that
I select Pam Wolfe for the 2003 Angels in
Adoption Award.
Texas
Jean Boyd
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Judge Jean Boyd was responsible for bringing
National Adoption Day to Texas. As a result of her
efforts, Fort Worth was the first city in Texas to
participate in training attorneys and providing
volunteer services to finalize adoptions for state
foster children in the State of Texas under the
Adoption Day Program. Judge Boyd has received
numerous awards, and she is continually recognized
for her commitment to children and promoting
permanency through adoption. Judge Boyd was
instrumental in the Tarrant County Bar Association’s
recent acceptance of the STAR award for their
participation in National Adoption Day. This is one
of five awards given by the State Bar of Texas to
local bar associations for exemplary programs.
Although our local bar association received the
award, the program and success of the program
can be directly attributed to Judge Boyd.
Barry and D’Wanna Finkel
Representative Michael C. Burgess
Barry and D’Wanna Finkel became the host family
for an orphaned seven-year-old Ukrainian boy, Denis
Konuka. Denis came to the U.S. with medical needs
that required open-heart surgery, so the Finkels
arranged for a San Antonio Hospital to provide the
needed surgery free of charge. Meanwhile, the
Finkels paid for Denis to travel to Texas and
provided for his needs before, during, and after the
surgery. Having no children left at home, the Finkels
fell in love with Denis while caring for him and
decided to pursue his adoption. Because Denis
came to the U.S. through a special medical referral
program in the Ukraine, the Finkels were required
to return to the Ukraine in order to proceed with an
international adoption. After Denis returned to the