The Adoption Information Center of Illinois to be honored as a Congressional Angel in Adoption
Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2003) – The Adoption Information Center of Illinois (AICI) was honored today by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) at a national ceremony held in the District of Columbia. AICI was selected by U.S. Representative John Shimkus as one of 150 Congressional Angels in Adoption for the year 2003.
CCAI is 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; and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their need of a family. The Angels in Adoption program was created in 1999 to raise public awareness of the many different ways that committed individuals can help children and families through adoption. There are more than 550,000 children in the foster care system in the U.S., with tens of thousands available for adoption.
“More than 5,000 listed children have been placed for adoption since the inception of the Adoption Listing Service which is operated by the Adoption Information Center of Illinois (AICI),” stated Marilyn Panichi, Executive Director of AICI. “We are honored to receive the Angels in Adoption award and grateful to have had an opportunity to play a part in helping children find loving, committed families.”
Each year, CCAI invites all members of the United States Congress to participate in the Angels in AdoptionTM program, as it is a unique opportunity for federal legislators to recognize others from their home states who have improved the lives of children through adoption. Since the program’s inception in 1999, members of Congress have awarded over 400 congressional Angels in Adoption from all 50 states. This year more than 150 members of Congress have participated, including Representative John Shimkus. CCAI will also honor Bruce Willis and Muhammad and Lonnie Ali as the 2003 National Angels in Adoption at the D.C. awards banquet. Freddie Mac Foundation and Target Corporation are the two major sponsors of the 2003 Angels in Adoption awards banquet.
“Serving children and families through adoption has been central in my life first as an Adoption Coordinator with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and then through creating the AICI and co-founding the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA),” stated Panichi. Serving on the AEA board for more than twenty years, Panichi remarked, “Last year the AEA received a federal grant to administer the Children’s Bureau’s Collaboration to AdoptUsKids. This collaboration provides Illinois children national opportunities to achieve permanency. Our work continues.”