WASHINGTON – Buck and DeAndra Gibson of Searcy, Arkansas have been named 2016 Congressional Angels in Adoption in recognition of their commitment to strengthening families and advocating for adoption.

U.S. Senator John Boozman nominated the Gibsons as 2016 Congressional Angels in Adoption. Boozman met with Buck and DeAndra on Tuesday during a ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of award recipients from across the country. He joined them for a gala event on Wednesday in honor of the more than 150 Angels.

“Buck and DeAndra Gibson are wonderful parents and members of their community who have personally experienced the joy of adoption. Having witnessed the difficulties that some children face when lacking a strong family unit, the Gibsons chose to open their home to a child in need of a loving family. I’m proud to recognize Buck and DeAndra for their adoption and child welfare advocacy,” Boozman said.

“We are honored to be recognized by CCAI and encourage all those who are interested in either adopting or working with others to build families in this way to check with local sources to see how they can help,” the Gibsons said.

“The Angels in Adoption Program is a unique annual opportunity in the nation’s Capital to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the power of adoption and the unspoken heroes who have made the dream of a family a reality for children. Since the program’s inception, over 2,500 Angels have come to Washington to share their firsthand adoption experiences with Members of Congress, highlighting its joys, as well as the barriers encountered in the process,” said Becky Weichhand, Executive Director at CCAI. “Members of Congress are then able to use their new experiential understanding of these issues to create policy improvements that better support these children and the families that open their hearts and homes to them.”

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), coordinates the Angels in Adoption  program and raises awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States, and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent homes.