2001 Angel in Adoption Awardees - Pound Pup Legacy

Carol is volunteering to facilitate a Community Post Adoption Support Group for all triad members. In the past shehas volunteered for Humanity United in Giving (HUG) Romanian Orphanage Work and Staff Training, DisputeMediation Services and HSPC Subcommittee on HIV/AIDS Services for Women and Adolescents. Carol has beenan aspiration to the adoption field in Texas.Patricia Martinez DornerRep. Lamar SmithReason for selection: Her professional peers consider Patricia Martinez Dorner to be a social work hero. Theaudiences who have filled lecture halls throughout North America to hear her speak, and those who have read herrespected publications, consider Patricia Martinez Dorner to be one of the nation’s top experts on open adoption. Thecountless families who have benefited from her relentless dedication consider her an “Angel in Adoption”.As one of her many admirers put it, Martinez Dorner’s passionate and compassionate advocacy for openness hasprovided those who have been adopted both “roots and wings” that have strengthened their lives and their families.Another credits her “unwavering commitment to truth” when dealing with the sensitive issues associated withadoption, enabling her to “soothe the wounds created by emptiness and separation for many children and families inneed.” A hero. An expert. An advocate. A truth seeker. Patricia Martinez Dorner is an “Angel in Adoption”.UtahCurt DahlRep. Jim MathesonReason for selection: Curt Dahl is an award winning creative writer for Bonneville International Corporation. He isthe author of the Home Front series of Public Service announcements emphasizing the importance of spending timewith he family. He has also recently written a television and radio adoption promotion campaign. The first twotelevision commercials have already won three different Public Service Announcement awards for excellence. Curtis also an adotive father. He lives with his wife and three children in Sandy, Utah.Wayne and Shanna HolgreenRep. Chris CannonReason for selection: Wayne and Shanna Holgreen, along with their five biological children, opened their hearts andtheir home to adopt three sisters, Jessie-7, Julee-5, and Holly-4, on April 11 th 2001. The Holgreen’s displayedtremendous love, hope, charity, and endurance through the long adoption process.The three sisters were initially placed with the Holgreen’s on July 2, 1999 under foster care/adoption agreement.Then in September of 1999, with tears and mixed emotions, the children were returned to their birth mother who hadchanged her mind about the placement. Finally, on April 11, 2000, the birth mother made her heroic decision to signa relinquishment to place her daughter’s only with Wayne and Shanna’s family. Once again, joyful tears were shed asthe children came back to the Holgreen family. Wayne and Shanna have been wonderful examples of kind,understanding, and patient adoptive parents. In every good way, The Holgreens are truly angel’s in adoption.Tyallee PendletonSen. Orrin HatchReason for selection: Adoption Volunteer, Tyalee Penleton, is an adoptive mother of two children. She has such aconviction about adoption. She is the volunteer who freely gives her time to assist me in running the birth parentgroup. She will spend days at local high schools sharing her adoption stories, as well as educating. She is alwayswilling to talk to a birth mother. She is open and candid about infertility, and so loving and accepting of the youngwomen we work with. I know the women could call Tyalee anytime about anything and she would be available tohelp them.VirginiaLaura Flynn and her son Nicholas Flynn-TannerRep. James MoranReason for selection: “Some Angels pass legislation, some write books, and others just help keep a promise.” LauraFlynn and her son Nicholas Flynn-Tanner, eleven-years-old, never allowed each other to forget about the children leftbehind in Kazakhstan after Nicholas was adopted. Nicholas and his best friend Serlik grew up together in an