WHEREAS, every child deserves to grow up in a loving, stable family, yet sadly, many children in America have parents who are unwilling or unable to care for them; and
WHEREAS, more than 111,820 children in the United States are currently in foster care, waiting to be adopted; and
WHEREAS, for our children who have lost their birth families, adoption can provide the home life, parental love, nurturing and security that they would otherwise be missing; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina’s future depends on today’s children, and the State is committed to helping all children reach their full potential in supportive families; and
WHEREAS, to help these children find permanent, nurturing families, local courts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will open their doors on National Adoption Day November 20, 2021, to finalize the adoptions of children and join other organizations to celebrate these adoptions; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina encourages citizens, community agencies, religious organizations, businesses and others to celebrate adoption, honor the families that grow through adoption and focus attention on those children who live with the burden of an uncertain future while they await permanent families;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November, 2021, as “ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH” and November 20, 2021, as “NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.