The National Adoption Day Coalition joined President George W. Bush at the White House today honoring the annual nationwide celebration of adoption from foster care known as National Adoption Day. On Saturday, November 17, hundreds of communities in all 50 states will hold courtroom celebrations to finalize more than 3,330 adoptions of children from foster care, bringing the total number of finalized adoptions as part of National Adoption Day activities to more than 20,000.

Every year, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, hundreds of judges, attorneys, adoptions agencies, adoption professionals and child advocates volunteer their time to finalize adoptions of children from foster care and celebrate all families who adopt.

"This day not only celebrates these new families, but raises awareness of the overwhelming number of children still waiting for a loving home," said Rita Soronen, Executive Director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a founding sponsor of National Adoption Day. "We are honored that 20,000 children have now permanently joined families through our national celebrations. Experiencing the joy of National Adoption Day reminds us all of what we can accomplish and drives us further toward the goal of finding a home for every child."

Right now, there are 114,000 children waiting in the foster care system that are legally and permanently separated from their biological parents. Through no fault of their own, these children enter foster care because abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. Unless they are connected with adoptive parents they will not only lose the opportunity for family joys as simple as Thanksgiving dinner, but they will also be at an increased risk for being undereducated, unemployed, homeless and/or involved in substance abuse or criminal activity.

Since 1987, the number of children in foster care has nearly doubled, and the average time a child waits for an adoptive family is more than 3 years. And each year, nearly 25,000 of these youth will just end up leaving the system when they turn 18 with no family to support them in the future.

The National Adoption Day Coalition works tirelessly throughout the year with hundreds of communities and thousand of volunteers to dispel the myths about adopting from foster care and to raise awareness about the 114,000 children in need of adoptive families. The day also builds collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts and advocacy organizations and communicates the availability and need for post-adoptive services

"Year after year, the National Adoption Day Coalition is inspired by the families who open up their homes and hearts to children in need of adoption and the dedicated individuals who devote years to promising a better future to children in foster care," said Ralph Boyd, President and CEO, Freddie Mac Foundation, a sponsor of National Adoption Day. "This day would not be possible without the work of judges, lawyers, court personnel, agency staff and organizations who have made National Adoption Day what it is today."

National Adoption Day is sponsored by a coalition dedicated to improving the lives of children, including The Alliance for Children's Rights, Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Freddie Mac Foundation.

Here are a few examples of the hundreds of events that will be taking place on National Adoption Day 2007:

-- On Saturday, November 17, New York City Family Court will host an adoption celebration for all five New York City counties. The event will be held at the new Kings County Family Court where 125 children will be adopted from foster care.

-- Los Angeles, the birthplace of the "Adoption Saturday" program and National Adoption Day, will hold its 8th annual National Adoption Day celebration at the Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court in Monterey Park on November 17. On this day, the courthouse doors will be opened to finalize the adoptions of 250 children in foster care. Presiding Judge Michael Nash and dozens of judicial officers will volunteer their time to finalize the children's adoptions. Jo Frost from ABC's Supernanny will attend and assist with adoptions.

-- On Saturday, November 17, Washington, D.C.'s Adoption Day in Court will be held in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Courthouse. On Adoption Day, the Superior Court will finalize 30 adoptions. The emcee for the program will be Barbara Harrison of Channel 4 (NBC) news, and representatives of the media will be present.

-- The State of Michigan is celebrating National Adoption Day in an unprecedented 33 counties. Events and activities will take place throughout the state featuring the adoption of 219 children from the Michigan foster care system.

-- States including Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida and Washington have expanded the reach of National Adoption Day within their own jurisdictions by coordinating events in multiple cities and counties across their respective states.

Individuals can learn more about foster care adoption and the events taking place locally by visiting www.NationalAdoptionDay.org.