(Diane Barnes receives an Outstanding Foster Parent Award from COG Chair Michael Knapp)

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Freddie Mac Foundation paid tribute to hundreds of foster parents from the Metropolitan Washington region during its sixth annual Foster Parent Appreciation Gala held at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington D.C. on Saturday, May 17.

The event was an opportunity for elected officials to honor outstanding foster families, and drew a crowd that included foster and adoptive parents, family members, elected officials, and social services administrators.  The evening’s program was hosted by Barbara Harrison, NBC-4 news anchor and host of the “Wednesday’s Child” program, an Emmy-nominated weekly television feature currently celebrating 15 years of helping find adoptive families for children in foster care.  

“In the metropolitan Washington region, over 600 children have been featured on Wednesday’s Child; more than 15,000 inquiries have been received; and nearly 300 children have been placed in permanent homes,” said Montgomery County President and COG Chair Michael Knapp.  “This success has been a team effort.”

In the Metropolitan Washington region alone, 6,000 children are in foster care on any given day. Children in family foster care return to their biological families, become available for adoption, or are placed in a permanent situation.

2008 Outstanding Foster Parent Award Winners:

District of Columbia-Diane Barnes

Frederick County-Sue and Randy Lindauere

Montgomery County – Tas Robin Bhatti

Prince George’s County-Lula Hampton

City of Alexandria-Vernon and Colena Jones

Arlington County-Lin and Claudia Peacock

Fairfax County-Linda Rogers-Kingsbury

Prince William County-Aminta Haynes