[StBernard] This Week: Angels in Adoption, and more!

[Westley Annis]

Dear Friend,

	Last week was an exciting week for me here in Washington. These past
several days, I've had the opportunity to acknowledge Louisianians who are
making a difference. Read on to learn more about the Louisianians we
honored, who stand out in their commitment to adoption and athleticism.


Landrieu Honors Angels in Adoption


Senator Landrieu has long been a staunch advocate for orphans and foster
children, and this past week, she had the opportunity to participate in the
11th annual Angels in Adoption event
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2700> . The celebration, hosted by
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute-of which Senator Landrieu
is a co-chair-honors those who have made a significant impact on adoption
and foster child awareness.

The CCAI recognizes 'Angels' at both the state and national level. There
were five Louisiana Angels
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2701>  selected this year: Ada Burson
of New Orleans; Lisa Gould of Minden; Edith Morris of New Orleans; Barbara
Thompson of Zachary; and Irene Williams from Harvey. 

New Orleans native Sean Tuohy and his wife Leigh Anne were two of this
year's four National Angels
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2702> .  The Tuohys are the subject
of the book "The Blind Side,"
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2703>  by Michael Lewis, also a New
Orleans native. The book chronicles the Tuohys' adoption and upbringing of
then 15-year old Michael Oher, who went on to become a first-round NFL draft
pick. The book is currently being made into a film
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2704>  starring Sandra Bullock and
Tim McGraw.

 
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2705> Senator Landrieu's commitment
to adoption and foster care issues stems from personal experience. She is
the mother of two adopted children, and her husband Frank was also adopted
as a young child. Through this intimate understanding of the obstacles to,
and rewards of, adoption, Senator Landrieu has become one of the leading
advocates of adoption legislation in Congress. The senator's current
initiatives
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2706>  include overhauling the foster
care funding system to provide coherency and stability, and the Foster Care
Mentoring Act of 2009, which would provide grants to states to develop or
expand statewide academic mentoring programs for children in foster care.

To watch the Senator's tribute to Angels in Adoption on the floor of the
senate, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2705> .

 
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2707> 

To hear more about Angels in Adoption from Senator Landrieu, the Tuohys, and
Michael Lewis, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2707> .


In other news.


The national champion LSU baseball team visited the White House
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2708> , and met with Vice President
Joe Biden
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2709> , before attending a luncheon
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2711>  hosted by Senator Landrieu.
"It was a tremendous trip for our players, something that was well-deserved
after we won the national championship," Coach Paul Mainieri said
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00047320.5408.367&gen=1&mailing_linkid=2710> . "We're very grateful to have
had the opportunity to go to Washington... We are so appreciative of what
Senator Landrieu did to make this trip happen." Senator Landrieu even
received her very own Tigers Jersey.

The LSU Tigers beat the Texas Longhorns in June to clinch the championship
title, and last Wednesday, became the sixth LSU team to visit the White
House.