WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) has announced her nomination for the 2008 Angel in Adoption.

Boyda said “I am pleased to nominate Michelle Reed from Fredonia, Kansas for the 2008 Angel in Adoption. In addition to adopting two children from Kazakhstan, she has become an advocate for international adoption by facilitating support groups and by serving on the board of Two Hearts for Hope. Michelle is truly an Angel in Adoption.”

Michelle’s adoption story began in 2004 when a cousin and a friend announced that they were adopting children from Korea and China. In support of their efforts, she began looking into the process. With two teenagers in the family, Michelle and her husband had not previously considered becoming adoptive parents.  However they found endless pictures of children available for adoption on the Internet.  Michelle said “I began to think that we could give a home – a family – to one of these children.”

In March of 2004, the Reeds signed an agency contract to adopt Jess, a three year old from Kazakhstan.  They made the trip for their anxiously-awaited son in November 2004. During their 6 1/2 weeks in country, they also met a very special little girl. In October, 2005 they returned to Kazakhstan for their new daughter, three year old Jsera. 

Michelle soon began working to help other families through the adoption process. She is now the moderator of three Internet groups that provide support for families that are in the process of adopting internationally or integration assistance for those that have already adopted. They try to facilitate heritage knowledge, for example, by teaching parents to cook their child’s native foods. Michelle and her family this year hosted an exchange student from Kazakhstan who gave them much insight into their children’s heritage.

Michelle is also a board member of the newly formed organization, Two Hearts for Hope, which raises donations to send supplies to orphanages in Kazakhstan. Most of the supplies are those that many of us take for granted, like shoes and warm clothing.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) was created in 2001 by the active co-chairs of the bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) to more effectively raise Congressional and public awareness about the issue of adoption.  The Angels in Adoption program is CCAI’s signature public awareness campaign. It provides an opportunity for all members of the U.S. Congress to honor the good work of constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad. The yearlong public awareness campaign will honor the nominees in an awards gala and celebration in Washington, D.C. this coming September.

Congresswoman Boyda added, "Of course, no award can repay the efforts of caring individuals like Michelle, but I hope the recognition helps to express our nation's gratitude for their efforts."