Rodney Atkins Named National Adoption Celebrity Spokesperson

Rodney Atkins Named National Adoption Celebrity Spokesperson

Award-winning Country Music Singer/Songwriter to Promote Adoption Awareness at Adoptive and Foster Parent Recruitment Summit in Washington, D.C.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Council For Adoption (NCFA), a leading adoption advocacy organization, has named award-winning country music star Rodney Atkins as its 2007-2008 National Celebrity Spokesperson of the Year. The 2007 winner of the Academy of Country Music's "Best New Male Vocalist" Award will serve as keynote speaker and special musical guest at the Families for All National Parent Recruitment Summit on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 in Washington, D.C.

Rodney Atkins, whose third consecutive number one single "These Are My People" reached the top of the Billboard country singles chart the same week as the accompanying music video reached the top of the CMT Top 20 Countdown, was adopted into his family as an infant and speaks from personal experience about the benefits of adoption.

"From the moment I met Rodney Atkins, it was clear to me that his heart is just as big as his talent," says NCFA President Tom Atwood. "Many people have been touched by his songs, and I know that many more will be inspired by his personal story and commitment to serving the cause of adoption."

Rodney's debut as NCFA's National Celebrity Spokesperson of the Year will be at the Families for All National Parent Recruitment Summit on Wednesday, October 3, 2007, at Hotel Washington, 515 15th Street, NW, in Washington, D.C. Leaders and experts in the field of adoptive and foster parent recruitment and training will convene for this summit, with the goal to deliver the message to Congress and the administration that the foster care financing system is broken and must be reformed now to provide for the crucial and neglected strategy of parent recruitment and training for children in state care. Rodney will share his personal adoption story at the summit and provide a lunchtime musical performance for those assembled.

"These children are the future of our nation and our families. It is important that we make sure they are taken care of," says Rodney.

A press conference is scheduled for 3:30 pm at the Hotel Washington the day of the summit, with Rodney and other adoption and child welfare advocates participating.

"We look forward to working with Rodney to raise awareness of important adoption and foster care issues," says Atwood. "His humble willingness to become an advocate for children is evidence of the character that is the foundation of his success."

About NCFA

Since 1980, NCFA has been a leading voice among national adoption and child welfare organizations. NCFA is a research, education, and advocacy nonprofit that provides adoption information, promotes ethical adoption practices, informs public policy and opinion about adoption issues, and serves as a resource for women with unplanned pregnancies, adopted persons and their families, those seeking to adopt, and adoption professionals.

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Source: National Council for Adoption

CONTACT: Lee A. Allen, +1-703-299-6633, or Mobile, +1-301-693-6513; or
Cassie McConnell, or Kathy Best, both of FrontPage Publicity, +1-615-383-0412

Web Site:

http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/

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