Kidsave's Miracles Gala season opened with our event in Washington D.C. on May 29. The theme, A World of Possibility, highlights the way Kidsave's work helps older kids in foster care reach their full potential by connecting them with forever families or long-term mentors.
Social hour began just outside the Eastern Market in downtown D.C. where we gathered under sparkling string lights just as the sun was beginning to set. After enjoying a social hour with wine and cocktails, everyone moved indoors for dinner and the presentation. We were welcomed by our Master of Ceremonies, Tia Mitchell, Washington Bureau Chief for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and she and our Auctioneer, Max Wolf, kicked the evening off with a wine auction—just a taste of the fun yet to come.
Each year at the Kidsave Miracles Gala, awards are given to inspirational leaders who advocate for kids in care both in their personal and professional lives. This year, we were proud to award broadcast journalist and adoptive mother, Judy Woodruff, with the Inspirational Voices Award. Judy has truly been a voice for children throughout her career in journalism, and in her personal life, she opened her heart and her home to her adoptive daughter, Lauren.
Judy shared the story of how—despite already having a 2-year-old and 7-year-old—she and her husband, Al, began exploring adoption. They received information about a baby girl available for adoption in South Korea. After discussing all the reasons they probably shouldn’t move forward, the two looked again at the photo provided of the little girl and said, “We’re doing this.”
“Raising every child is an adventure and it has been an adventure with her,” said Judy. “We feel so blessed to have brought her into our lives. People have sometimes said to us over the years she is so lucky that you adopted her. And we always say yes, but more importantly, think how lucky we are and how enriched our family has been by having her in it…Every child deserves a loving family, and we need to continue to spread that word.”
Hear Judy’s acceptance speech.
With her acceptance, Judy joins an elite group of Kidsave awardees including Scott Simon, Lindsay Price, Lisa Joyner, Jennifer Garner, and many more who have used their platforms to champion children in need.
We also heard an exciting update from Kidsave’s Senior Vice President and Director of Family Visit Programs, Lauren Reicher Gordon. In 2024, Kidsave expanded its innovative Weekend Miracles program into the Commonwealth of Virginia, and after just a few short months, Lauren announced the program’s very first hosting match between fifteen-year-old Johnathan and Kidsave dad and mentor, Calvin Dyson. Johnathan was in attendance that evening with Calvin and his two sons, James and Santiago, and the four stood to be recognized.
Learn more about the Weekend Miracles Virginia program.
Kidsave Co-Founder and CEO, Randi Thompson, provided additional updates, including an inspiring announcement regarding Kidsave’s work in Ukraine. In 2024, Kidsave officially opened the Miracles Center in western Ukraine, a multipurpose campus where kids living in care and orphanages can come to receive respite, trauma-informed therapy, and soon, an opportunity to connect with potential families.
“Last summer we opened the Kidsave Miracles Center — a sanctuary in Ukraine offering healing, support, and family placement for kids who have lost everything,” said Randi. “Next month, we’re opening the Van Scoyoc and Vicente and Partners Family Connections Lodge at the Center: a place where Ukrainian families can come and stay for a week at a time, getting to know kids who desperately need families and building those all-important connections that lead to forever homes.”
Support Kidsave’s work in Ukraine.
Our favorite moment of the night, though, was when we heard from Kidsave alum, Angie Lucas. Angie bravely shared the story of her childhood in Cúcuta, Colombia where she experienced poverty and abuse and witnessed her mother’s struggle with addiction. After spending three years in foster care, Angie was given the opportunity to participate in Kidsave’s Summer Miracles program.
“At first, I was excited, and also very nervous,” said Angie. “I was scared, but also I had hope. I thought maybe I could be one of those kids who found a perfect family with loving parents and maybe a dog. I definitely wanted a dog.”
Joining the program took a lot of courage. Angie had to leave behind her home, including her siblings, and come to a country where she didn’t speak the language or understand the culture.
“When I arrived in the United States, everything was different,” she said. “The food, the culture, the language – especially the language. But something inside me kept saying: Don’t give up, Angie. And I didn’t.”
Through the Summer Miracles events, Angie began to open up and have fun. She began to laugh and play games and meet new people.
“And that’s when I met my forever moms — Claire and Judy,” said Angie. “Two women who have the biggest hearts, who looked at me like I mattered. Who treated me with kindness and cared for me.”
After getting to know each other through the program, Claire, Judy, and Angie decided to move forward with adoption and become a family. Angie moved from Colombia to D.C. permanently and found she was living the kind of life she'd always dreamed of: safe and loved.
But their family’s journey didn’t end there.
“I must have been a pretty amazing kid, because my moms went back and did Summer Miracles a second time, and now I have a brother, Juan!” exclaimed Angie.
Angie then announced that, thanks to the love and support of her family, she recently graduated from high school with honors and will be attending Dean College in the fall with an academic scholarship.
Angie is an amazing example of the way kids can thrive when given the love and support they need.
Learn more about the Summer Miracles program.
The Washington D.C. crowd showed their generous support by participating in our live and silent auctions and our fundraising “auction” Bid from the Heart. To everyone who contributed to the success of our DC Miracles gala: thank you. Your support allows us to continue our life-changing work and help more kids like Angie reach their full potential.
