Celebrating ... Our Families, Our Children

Friends of the Adoption Institute from all over Southern California came together on October 13th to have a lot of fun (big time!) and to honor long-time Institute supporters Sue Naegle and Dana Gould. Our annual award to this great couple – who happen to be the parents of three daughters from China – was presented by another great Institute friend and previous honoree, Peter Levine.

The event was also an opportunity to publicly salute the Kinship Center for its decades of exemplary work in bringing to life the kinds of ethical practices and policies that the Institute identifies, promotes and supports. Executive Director Adam Pertman was proud to present Kinship's Executive Director, Carol Biddle, with our first annual Spotlight Award.

The Institute would like to thank everyone whose hard work made the evening such a great success. In particular, we extend a deep bow of gratitude for the contributions of our Honorary Chairs: Casey Bloys and Alonzo Wickers, Peter Levine and Eric Mathre, Michael Lombardo and Sony Ward, Amy Pascal and Bernie Weinraub, and Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks. We are also very grateful for the tireless efforts of our Co-Chairs: Sandy McManus, Reese Relfe and Anne Youngblood, who made it an evening to remember and who brought the Institute's work to a far wider Golden State audience than we have ever had before.

The success of Celebrating ... Our Families, Our Children is vital to the Institute's ability to continue our work. If you haven't already done so – or if you would like to help some more – it's not too late to make a donation. Please go to http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/about/support.php to find out how.

Board Member Hollis Forbes, Benefit Co-Chairs Anne Youngblood and Sandy McManus with Ben Youngblood	Host Committee Member Scott Lowell with Benefit Co-Chair Anne Youngblood
Honorary Chairs Eric Mathre and Peter Levine with Host Committee Member Laura Dern	Host Committee Members Glenn and Helaine Ross
Board Members Sandy McManus, Greg Ammon and Kathleen Hricik	Host Committee Member Laura Dern, Honoree Sue Naegle and Honorary Chair Peter Levine
Benefit Co-Chair and Board Member Anne Youngblood	Honorees Sue Naegle and Dana Gould
Guests Dimitri and Deanne Shartin with Host Committee member Pat McCabe	Executive Director Adam Pertman, Kinship Center Honorees Allison Maxon and Carol Biddle
Executive Director Adam Pertman	Kinship Center's Carol Biddle
Honorary Chair Peter Levine with Honoree Dana Gould	Board Members Kathleen Hricik and Sandy McManus
Host Committee Member Laura Dern and Honorary Chair Peter Levine	Board Member Anne Youngblood and Carol Biddle
Benefit Co-Chair Reese Relfe and Executive Director Adam Pertman	Guest Alexis Bledel