Crapo Chooses â??Angel In Adoptionâ??

Washington, DC â??Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has chosen Treasure Valley resident Meri Brennan as an â??Angel in Adoptionâ?? for her work with foster care and adoption programs in Idaho. Brennan, who works for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and produces a weekly television news segment featuring foster children from throughout the state, will be honored with other recipients in an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. on Tuesday night. She was instrumental in introducing the â??Wednesdayâ??s Childâ?? adoption program to the Treasure Valley.â??Meri Brennan has shown determination, hard work, and perseverance in finding permanent families for children in foster care throughout Idaho,â?? Crapo said. â??Since helping to introduce the program in the Treasure Valley, Meri has worked tirelessly on â??Wednesdayâ??s Child,â?? to the benefit of many young people in our state who have been placed with loving families. She is to be commended as one who has truly made a difference in many lives. I am proud to select her as an â??Angel in Adoptionâ?? recipient.â??â??Wednesdayâ??s Childâ?? seeks to place foster children in permanent families, utilizing the media to increase awareness of children available for adoption. Each Wednesday, a child in foster care who is available for adoption is profiled on the local evening news. During a segment hosted by a local newscaster, viewers are encouraged to learn more about helping these children find homes, and a phone number is provided. Brennan often coordinates these television shoots, and works with various media outlets (television, radio, and newspapers) to reach potential parents throughout the state. Brennan has also garnered the support of business and government leaders, securing community and in-kind contributions of goods and services from over eighty businesses and agencies in an excess of $200,000 annually. Since its introduction in the Treasure Valley in November 1998, â??Wednesdayâ??s Childâ?? has helped over 145 waiting youth to be placed with loving families.The â??Angels in Adoptionâ?? Award was created to recognize individuals committed to promoting adoption and making a difference in the lives of children. The award is sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to raising congressional and public awareness about the tens of thousands of foster children in this country and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe and loving homes. This year, more than 270 individuals were selected by members of Congress to receive the award.# # #