Adoption Hall of Fame - National Council For Adoption

Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 | Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.

Please join National Council For Adoption for an inspiring evening celebrating our 2025 Adoption Hall of Fame honorees.

Each year since 1982, NCFA has recognized those who have made significant contributions to building a culture that supports all members of the adoption constellation. Past honorees include presidents and members of Congress, business and philanthropic leaders, child welfare professionals, and ordinary Americans who have opened their hearts and homes.

This Year's Honorees

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) Co-Chair, Congressional Coalition on Adoption

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) Champion for the Adoption Tax Credit

June Dorn Children’s Bureau, The Administration for Children & Families (Retired)

Naomi Schaefer Riley Author, Journalist, and Policy Fellow

Read the Press Release Press Release - PDF version

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors

Dr. & Mrs. Wayne & Linda Sharp
Cal & Sally Simmons

Silver Sponsors

One More Child Foundation
The Firschein Family
Stacey & Kevin Reynolds
The Russell Group

Bronze Sponsors

Center for Adoption Support & Education
National Beer Wholesalers Association
Foster + Bloom Family Formation Law Group

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsors for the Adoption Hall of Fame play an important role in this annual celebration! They have the chance to promote their own work to our audience of adoption advocates, child welfare leaders, and policy decisionmakers while supporting NCFA’s advocacy and education efforts.

Past Honorees

The Ruby Lee Piester Adoption Award

Ruby Lee Piester Adoption Award Recipients

In honor of NCFA's founder, the Ruby Lee Piester Adoption Award recognizes a lifetime of service to children, birth parents, and adoptive families. It is reserved only for those whose exceptional and extraordinary lifetime achievement has changed the practice of adoption for the better.

Heidi Bruegel Cox (2024)

Dr. Wayne Winston Sharp and Mrs. Linda Whitbeck Sharp (2021)

Sen. Mary Landrieu (2016)

Louis and Carol Stern (2015)

C. Harold Brown (2010)

Dr. William L. Pierce (2003)

The Adoption Hall of Fame Award

Adoption Hall of Fame Recipients

The Adoption Hall of Fame Award is given in recognition of outstanding commitment, service, and sacrifice for the cause of adoption by an individual or organization who has positively impacted the practice of adoption.

Dr. Dana Johnson (2025)
Joshua Zhong & Lily Nie (2024)
Debbie Riley (2024)
Aleda Madison (2024)
Mary Beth Chapman (2023)
Chuck Johnson (2022)
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (2022)
Rep. Mike Kelly (2019)
Delilah (2018)
Rep. Karen Bass (2017)
Sen. Roy Blunt (2017)
Rep. Trent Franks (2017)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (2017)
Kelly Peterson (2017)
Thomas M. Velie (2017)
Susan Soonkeum-Cox (2016)
The Charles and Mary Crossed Foundation (2015)
Heidi Cox (2015)
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (2015)
Paige Rense (2015)
Mendell Thompson (2015)
Gladney Center for Adoption (2012)
Marshall Williams (2011)
Rep. Jim McDermott (2010)
Lilli Petit Gallagher (2010)
Fred Riley (2010)
Mary Alice Babineaux (2008)
Warren Babineaux (2008)
Sen. Norm Coleman (2008)
Brad Oliver (2008)
Debbie Wybrow (2008)
Sen. Ben Nelson (2007)
Rep. William Frenzel (2006)
Kenneth Feld (2005)
Ted Kim (2005)
Al Hunt (2005)
Judy Woodruff (2005)
Dr. Gregory Foltz (2004)
Sen. Larry Craig (2003)
Rep. Jim DeMint (2003)
Donna Martin (2003)
Rev. W.C. Martin (2003)
HHS Sec. Tommy Thompson (2003)
Mayor Anthony Williams (2003)
Rep. Richard Armey (2002)
Rep. Dave Camp (2001)
Rep. William Delahunt (2001)
Rep. Tom DeLay, TX (2001)
Leo LiVolsi (2001)
Rosann LiVolsi (2001)
Joan McLaughlin (2001)
Peter Pfund (2000)
William Pierce (2000)
T.Q. Bradbook Smith, Q.C. (2000)
Louis Stern (2000)
Dr. Leslie Gruss (1999)
Dr. Michael Rosen (1999)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (1999)
Larisa Mason (1999)
Parade Magazine (1999)
Beverly Young (1999)
Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (1999)
Hasbro, Inc. (1998)
Dana Streep (1998)
Mary Streep (1998)
Ambassador Park Kun Woo (1997)
Cassie Statuto Bevan (1997)
Allan Neustadt (1997)
David Bushnell (1996)
Mary Bushnell (1996)
Gov. Robert Casey (1996)
Rep. George Gekas (1996)
Sen. Paul Simon (1996)
USA Networks (1996)
Rep. Newt Gingrich (1995)
Dr. C. Everett Koop (1995)
Rep. Thomas Bliley (1994)
Eastern Child Welfare Services, Korea (1994)
Gannett Corporation (1994)
Holt Children’s Services, Korea (1994)
Daniel J. Kilmurray (1994)
Rep. James Oberstar (1994)
Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (1993)
Sen. Gordon Humphrey (1993)
Scott Hamilton (1992)
Ralph Davidson (1992)
Lou Hill (1992)
Father Al Schwartz (1992)
Kitty Carruthers Conrad (1991)
Peter Carruthers (1991)
Ruby Lee Piester (1991)
Janet Simon (1991)
J. Peter Simon (1991)
Pres. Gerald Ford (1990)
Bertha Holt (1990)
Gregory Louganis (1990)
Dave Thomas (1990)
Father George H. Clements (1989)
Dorothy Debolt (1988)
Robert Debolt (1988)
John Coleman (1987)
Hon. Wilson Riles (1987)

The Friend of Adoption Award

Friend of Adoption Award Recipients

The Friend of Adoption Award is given in recognition of significant contributions made to the field of adoption by an individual or organization.

Sen. Bob Casey (2024)
Rep. Doug Lamborn (2023)
Celeste Liversidge (2023)
Rep. Annie Kuster (2023)
Rep. Danny Davis (2023)
Rep. Robert Aderholt (2023)
Rep. Jackie Walorski (2023, posthumously)
Kevin & Stacey Reynolds (2022)
DeMarcus Ware (2022)
Hoda Kotb (2022)
Rep. Jim Langevin (2019)
Lola Reinsch (2019)
Mayor Muriel Bowser (2018)
Gregory A. Castanias (2018)
Stan Collender (2018)
Bethany Haley (2017)
Charles and Esther Mully (2017)
Lauren McCormack (2017)
Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (2017)
Jane Castanias (2016)
Mark McDermott (2016)
Stan Swim (2015)
Vicki Allgaier (2013)
Wayne Allgaier (2013)
America’s Christian Credit Union (2013)
Christian Alliance for Orphans (2011)
White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (2011)
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (2010)
Paul Devantier (2006)
Dr. Wade F. Horn (2004)
Rep. Wally Herger (2004)
Sen. William V. Roth, Jr. (1998)
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (1998)
Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly (1998)
Rep. Dave Camp (1998)
Rep. E. Clay Shaw (1997)
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (1997)
Rep. Pete Green (1997)
First Lady Hillary Clinton (1997)
Rep. Jim Bunning (1997)
Rep. Bill Archer (1997)
Rep. Curt Weldon (1996)
Mary Beth Style (1996)
Barbara Reynolds (1996)
Rep. Joe Kennedy (1996)
Mona Charen (1996)
Brenda C. Destro (1992)
Delia W. Stroud (1991)
William Timothy Love (1988)
Howard Carter (1988)
Louis P. Stern (1987)
Ione Simpson (1987)
Jo Ann Gasper (1987)
William Schur (1986)
Rep. James Oberstar (1986)
Sen. Gordon Humphrey (1986)
Dorcas Hardy (1986)
John Grubb (1986)
Harold C. Brown (1986)
Rep. Thomas Bliley (1986)
Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (1986)
Toni McHugh (1985)
State Sen. Lucille Maurer (1985)
Sen. Gordon Humphrey (1985)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (1985)
State Sen. Thomas Deverin (1985)
Rep. William Lehman (1984)
Rep. Thomas Bliley (1984)
Lt. Col. Rachel Sparks (1983)
William E. McKay (1983)
Rep. Lindy Boggs (1983)
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (1982)
Marjory Mecklenburg (1982)
Sen. Edward Kennedy (1982)
Sen. Jeremiah Denton (1982)

The Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award

Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award Recipients

The Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award honors individuals and organizations that have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure children who have been placed in foster care experience the love and stability that come with a forever family.

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (2022)
The Villages of Indiana, Inc. (2022)
Indiana Department of Child Services (2022)
Becky Weichhand (2020)
Rob Scheer (2019)
Jimmy Wayne (2019)
Joe Kroll (2018)
Judge David Chandler (2017)
Barbara Harrison (2017)
Sixto Cancel (2016)
Nicole Marchman (2016)
Gov. John Kasich (2015)
Gov. John Hickenlooper (2015)

Special Awards

Special NCFA Awardees

FOSTER, an HBO original documentary (2019) – Excellence in Adoption Media Award
Metanoia Films (2007) – Excellence in Adoption Media Award
Sean Wolfington (2007) – Adoption Legacy Award
Tony Blankley (2006) – Excellence in Adoption Media Award
James M. Piester (1998) – Lifetime Service Award
James Savley (1998) – Profile in Courage Award
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (1998) – Profile in Courage Award
John Carr (1996) – Distinguished Service Award
Hon. William E. Simon (1989) – Adoptive Grandparents of the Year
Carol Simon (1989) – Adoptive Grandparents of the Year

For questions about the event please contact:

Megan Judt, Director of Development
mjudt@adoptioncouncil.org
703.637.9750