Governor of Maryland, State and County Officials and Top Business Leaders are Scheduled Presenters and Attendees for Center for Adoption Support and Education’s 20th Anniversary Gala April 21

  BURTONSVILLE, MARYLAND - 04/11/2018 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will present opening remarks at the Center for Adoption Support and Education’s 20th Anniversary Gala at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Saturday, April 21. County Officials and additional leaders are also scheduled to attend.

“C.A.S.E. has had a profound impact on countless adoptive and foster families across the nation by providing vital mental health services and support,” said Governor Hogan. “I applaud their efforts and I am honored to join them to celebrate their 20th anniversary and recognize the important work they do for so many Marylanders."     

Debra S. Waller, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Jockey International, Inc., a 142-year-old brand recognized around the world for its premium underwear and apparel, will also be featured. Waller, adopted as an infant, founded the Jockey Being Family Foundation in 2005 to strengthen adoptive families for successful futures. Her work has resulted in a long-standing partnership between C.A.S.E. and Jockey Being Family. 

“We value our long-standing partnership with C.A.S.E., which is committed to strengthening adoptive families through quality educational resources and innovative training for mental health professionals.” said Waller. “One failed adoption is too many.”

C.A.S.E. will present Star of Adoption Awards to Hannah McFadden and the Graving Family. Hannah is one of the youngest members and medalists of the U.S.A. Paralympic Team. Shortly after she was born, Hannah was adopted from Albania. The Gravings are a transracial family from Arlington, Virginia who became mother and daughter through interstate adoption from foster care.

The Gala will be emceed by Barbara Harrison, special projects anchor at NBC4 and creator of NBC4's award-winning “Wednesday's Child,” which features foster children in need of permanent adoptive homes. 

The Gala is chaired by Phil Gibbs, president of Hamel Builders, and Maria Garcia Anderson, C.A.S.E. board member and president and chief executive officer of Anderson Fire Protection, Inc. The Honorary Co-Chairs are First Lady of Montgomery County, Maryland, Catherine Leggett and Mayor of Somerset, Maryland, Jeffrey Slavin. 

The Gala will start at 6 p.m. and will feature a silent auction to benefit C.A.S.E. Online bidding on silent auction items is now available until 7:20 p.m. April 21, at www.biddingforgood.com/case. 

C.A.S.E. is celebrating 20 years as a nationally-recognized leader in adoption competent education, advocacy and training. Scheduled 20th anniversary events are listed at www.adoptionsupport.org/20years. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to improve the lives of adopted and foster children and their families through counseling, lifelong education, and a growing national network of trained professionals. With five offices in the Washington, D.C., area, C.A.S.E. has provided clinical services for more than 5,600 clients and their families since its founding in 1998. Partnerships with Jockey Being Family and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption enable C.A.S.E. to have greater reach in providing counseling, education, resources and training for adoption-competency nationally and internationally. C.A.S.E. leads the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. NTI enhances the capacity of child welfare professionals and mental health practitioners to better understand and address the mental health and developmental needs of children moving to or having achieved permanency through adoption or guardianship. For more information, visit www.adoptionsupport.org.