2001 Angel in Adoption Awardees - Pound Pup Legacy

Mary developed youth shelters in two different communities in Oklahoma. She has also developed other facilities forteens and their families in different communities around Oklahoma. Mary also helped to establish resources withinthe Creek County community. Through a collaborative effort between several agencies, head start, and the publicschool system an alternative education program was created to offer a school setting. Pregnant teenage girls, teenswith children, and teens requiring a specialized educational setting in order to reach their optimum educationalpotential were served by the alternative school.In 1993, Mary took on the opportunity to create a statewide therapeutic foster care program, while still upholding herother responsibilities, when she moved onto Western Plains Youth Services. Mary is now the clinical director atCVTS. She certifies all foster homes, matches families, staffs with councilors, makes treatment recommendationsand assists councilors, parents and children through crisis intervention whenever she is needed.Lou WatkinsRep. Wes WatkinsReason for selection: Lou Watkins has been involved in the process of adoption for many years. She works activelywith foster care through Wayward Girls. Lou plays an instrumental role of support for homeless and family shelterswithin the Stillwater Community, such as the Mission of Hope. Serving as a teacher and mentor for hundreds of kidsmakes her an excellent Angel in Adoption. Her active involvement through these programs ultimately led to theadoption of a child into her family. As a very active grandmother, she continues to serve these organizations, helpingto ensure bright and successful futures for children in need.OregonGary ConklingSen. Ron WydenReason for selection: Over the years, Mr.Conkling and his staff have dedicated countless hours working onlegislation regarding adoption. His staff has been vital for assisting with adoption related legislation matters, both onthe State and Federal level. His dedication has assisted thousands of families, homeless children, and adoptees allover the world.Gary Conkling is also an adoptive parent. He has provided a loving home and family for an adopted child. He is notonly sharing his love with the children in need of the world; he is also sharing his love with a child in need in his ownhome.PennsylvaniaBill and Gina AckermanSen. Rick SantorumReason for selection: Bill and Gina Ackerman are adoptive parents and sincere advocates for children waiting to beadopted. They have opened their hearts and their home to three beautiful siblings from Russia, Irina, Mariya, andYuri. When Bill and Gina learned that the children have another sibling, they began working to find a home for him.In April, the Ackerman family visited Washington D.C. to raise awareness of the need for improved care andconditions in orphanages and institutional settings. Most importantly, they stressed the need to find loving,permanent adoptive families for children waiting to be adopted.Gina is also working to enhance educational opportunities for children. She has discovered inefficiencies withEnglish as a Second Language (ESL) programs, and is working with her local school district and with teachersaround the country to correct these problems.Margaret Maria EvansRep. Joe PittsReason for selection: Meg is a birth mother, and the unsung heroes of adoption are the birth mothers. Giving up achild that a woman has carried in her womb for 9 months is one of the most difficult decisions in life. Meg is one ofthese women. She became pregnant in college and considered keeping the baby. However, through much prayer andunconditional support from family, she decided that the most loving thing she could do for her son was to give him toa married couple who had been unable to conceive a child. Through Meg’s selflessness, her son has a mother and afather raising him and a couple has known the joys of parenting through adoption. She is now working for AdoptionsFrom the Heart.