Somewhere Beautiful: An Adoption Day Story
By: Richard Anderson II, Anderson Trial Law PLLC
Hook: “Is it for me? Can I keep it?” A little girl asked Attorney ad Litem Richard Anderson II that question when he handed her a gift at an adoption celebration. Her reaction changed how he thinks about giving back. Read his National Adoption Month story: [link]
Article: November is National Adoption Month, a time to celebrate families built through adoption and to keep working for the young people still waiting for a permanent home. Crossroads volunteer Attorney ad Litem Richard Anderson II has spent years on this cause, and he helped start the annual Gator Law Adoption Day at UF Law in 2018. Here is his story, in his own words.
Prior to my time at the University of Florida, I was inspired by the National Adoption Celebration at Baylor University, which had been ongoing for some time. I recall being told that “some of the worst days of these children’s lives occurred in the courthouse, so we thought we’d celebrate their adoption somewhere beautiful.” Along with the change in surroundings, local businesses, law professors, and my fellow law students generously helped support us in obtaining breakfast, lunch, and ice cream for all the children and their families; UF mascots Albert and Alberta made a showing along with the cheer team, a balloon artist, and a face painter; and the tremendous case workers let us know their children’s interests so that we could get personal and meaningful gifts in celebration of their new forever families.
One memory that I will always cherish was of a little girl who, unfortunately, was unable to have her legal paperwork finalized with us in the Mock Trial Courtroom at our National Adoption Day celebration. She was from China, and her adoptive parents told me that she had never really had anything, and that even when they would send clothes and other essentials, they would become community property. They also let me know that she was a huge fan of Frozen. At the celebration, we gave her all of the character dolls from Frozen II. When I handed her the big box with the dolls inside, she excitedly asked “Is it for me? Can I keep it?” She opened the wrapping paper from the back side, revealing the box with writing on it (but none of the toys, not even a picture). She literally leapt up yelling “I LOVE IT!” Only then did I tell her to take off the rest of the wrapping and see what was inside. Then she REALLY loved it.
Her sincere gratitude, along with the excitement of all the other children, was an inspiration to me. So many things we take for granted, whether food, shelter, or security, are luxuries to some. When considering the ways that I could give back to my community, the question I asked myself was where my time could bring the most impact. It seemed obvious to me that there is no one more deserving of a helping hand than a child placed under significant stress from an early age through no fault of their own.
Being able to experience the full gamut of the dependency system, from my time as a Guardian ad Litem to my present role as an Attorney ad Litem, I have seen the impact that dedicated case workers, thoughtful legal professionals, and hero foster and adoptive parents have on children, and especially teenagers. It is sometimes amazing to see how quickly a young person can begin to thrive when their most basic needs are met, and when they experience the helping hand of someone who sees them, cares about them, and wishes for their success and happiness.
Thank you, Richard, for sharing this story and for the years you have given to children in the dependency system. Many of the young people Crossroads represents are in foster care, and some are still waiting for a permanent home. Every one of them deserves a team of advocates who sees them and wants them to succeed.
To learn how Crossroads helps meet the basic needs Richard describes, read “Meeting Basic Needs So Youth Can Reach Higher” [add link]. And if you’re an attorney interested in volunteering, we’d love to talk with you: Volunteer with Crossroads
