When Strangers Become Family

We share this with you as a wish for peace and love this holiday season.

When Strangers Become Family 

by: Michelle Johnson 

Development Intern

[Written in the voice of a child awaiting adoption and a 

husband longing for a child until their worlds collide] 

Who do I belong to? 

They gave me life and a name 

but no one to hold on to 

A life of inconsistency 

Nothing’s ever the same 

Could this be home? 

or only for today? 

I’ll dream forever 

if I wake to new scenery 

of a family 

embracing me with love 

and never leaving me 

Everything I’ve ever wanted 

as far as material things 

but still so incomplete 

I wanna feel the happiness 

that only a child brings 

Fill the hole in my heart 

Fulfillment to my life 

A reason to smile 

for me and my wife 

And then I met you 

Every thing I’ve ever needed 

My life anew 

My love will help you cope 

I know your past 

With you there is hope 

No more calamity 

Closer to world peace 

When strangers become family

Wednesday's Child - Megan

Megan is a sweet and beautiful 15- year- old originally from Guatemala. Art, computers, listening to Spanish music, and basketball are just some of her favorite pastimes. In school, she gets along well with her peers and teachers. While Spanish is her first language, she has made great gains in learning to speak English. She is a friendly and helpful teen with a goal to some day work in a salon.

Hair wash, cut, blow dry and make-up are the things Louis Christian Wayne Robert Salon and Spa offered to Megan for her Wednesday’s Child taping. As assumed, she gladly accepted! Wednesday’s Child host Vai Sikahema was there to witness her turn even more into a beauty. She and Vai were able to chat with staff as they dedicated their time with her and listened to her amazing story of how she came to America and how she hopes to soon be adopted into a loving family.

Megan had an amazing day getting pampered Vai later sat with her to talk about the importance of family. Megan is actively involved in her recruitment process for a family. She would like to be in a family that will love her unconditionally. All families will be considered.

To view her original feature, click here.

To view an extended feature, click here. 

This Holiday Season

Blog by Emily Meekins, intern. 

It’s the holiday season and the hustle and bustle is in full throttle as the end of the year approaches. As I walk the city streets gathering my final gifts for loved ones, it hurts to make eye contact with the lost souls that flood the streets in December hoping that the spirit of giving is still alive. Especially after the tragedy in Connecticut this past week, we hold our loved ones close and are reminded of the importance of family, what our family means to us, and how our lives would be affected if a loved one were lost.

To fathom the heartache of what these families are going through is unimaginable; equally as heartbreaking is imagining life without a family, without loved ones, and without a place to call home. There are over 104,000 children across the United States who will spend another holiday season dreaming of finding a loving family and stable home. While the winter holidays are often perceived as the happiest time of the year, with much emphasis on the importance of family and being with those you love, it is easy to forget that not everyone is experiencing the same kind of expectant joy.

This year, let us extend our loving arms and giving hands to those in need. Whether it’s providing someone with a loving family, a home-cooked meal, or simply sharing your story –giving the gift of love, kindness, and awareness touches the lives of everyone around you.

What does adoption mean to you and how has it touched your life? It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story, be apart of the bigger picture.

"Stories live in your blood and bones, follow the seasons and light candles on the darkest night-every storyteller knows she or he is also a teacher..." —Patti Davis

Phillies Charities Holiday Party

Ken & Katie join the Phanatic! 

Ken, our Executive Director, and Katie, our Development Manager, attended the Phillies Charities Holiday Party on Monday at the Diamond Club at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark. The room was filled with representatives from nearly 50 charities that received support from the Phillies over the past year.

Each group was spotlighted throughout the course of the program, and we were thrilled to feature one of our Wednesday’s Child Philadelphia clips that told the story of a family we have helped to create. Ken also had the opportunity to address the crowd, describing the need for adoption among older youth living in foster care. 

Ken with Phillies' Manager Charlie Manual

One of the highlights of the evening – apart from getting an autograph from Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel! – was learning about the inspiring work taking place in nonprofits across Philadelphia. Their causes and missions were varied, from housing for veterans to care packages for families with ailing children, but the passion was the same. It felt good to be a part of this community of care.

PS – We’ll be auctioning off our Charlie Manuel autographed-Phillie Phanatic at our fundraising gala on April 25th at the Crystal Tea Room! Stay tuned for more information about this exciting event!

Unique Gift Idea

Looking for an affordable unique gift made by children to help children?

We have them right here.


The National Adoption Center is providing child-created notecards for a $15 donation that are perfect for any occasion! The package consists of ten irresistible cards designed by 3rd graders in answer to the question, “What does family mean to you?” The results warm the heart and could make you laugh. Through this purchase you are helping find homes for children who are spending this holiday season in search of a safe and loving family.

So feel good about your holiday purchasing and give a gift that benefits children and allows NAC to continue to impact the world of adoption.

To order cards click HERE.

To make a donation click HERE.

Ripple Effect

No one ever knows the ripple effect of what they do. How could we have predicted that a film documentary maker who attended one of “match party” would lead to 170 children living in foster care having the opportunity to hear a weekend concert by Jay-Z in Philadelphia? Leah Stauffer, who is working on a documentary about foster care and adoption was so impressed by the children and social workers she met at a “match party” several months ago that she was determined to stay in touch with us, arranging to interview the our executive director and communications director as her work progressed. When she had the opportunity over Labor Day weekend to get several tickets to a special Jay-Z concert in downtown Philadelphia, she knew she wanted to make them available to the children she had met. Within 48 hours, a social worker for SWAN, Pennsylvania’s statewide adoption network, had emailed her families. Leah was stunned when emails flooded her computer—dozens of children with their foster parents wanted to attend. When Leah passed the word on to the Shawn Carter Foundation, started by Jay-Z and his mother, Gloria, the director there told her to include as many children as wanted to come. That number turned out to be 170. Jay-Z was so moved by the experience that he made a similar offer to children living under the care of New York's foster care system for a concert at the new Barclay Center in Brooklyn!

We thank Jeremy Maclin!

Jeremy Maclin, a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, grew up in an emotionally chaotic family until, as a sophomore in high school he went to live with the family he says “made me what I am today.” But he hasn't forgotten what it was like before he had a loving, secure family. Jeremy has, therefore, declared himself a spokesman for the National Adoption Center: for each Eagles home game, he invites an adoptive family to the game as his guest, giving them the chance to go to the warm-up before the game and meet with him in the locker room when the game is over. John Thomas and three of his children, who attended the first game against Baltimore, said it was an incredible experience, one that the children will always remember. Seven more adoptive families will have the same opportunity over the course of the season (one story of which we have already shared with you).