SHAHEEN, BASS HONOR EAST ROCHESTER RESIDENT AS NEW HAMPSHIRE ‘ANGEL IN ADOPTION’

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Congressman Charles F. Bass (R-NH-02) today praised Don Chick of East Rochester, New Hampshire for being named a Congressional Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute for his work with children in New Hampshire’s foster care system.  Shaheen and Bass both nominated Chick, who will be honored at a ceremony on Capitol Hill this week.

Shaheen said, “By volunteering his professional talents in his spare time to help New Hampshire foster children find families, Don has proven to be the epitome of the model citizen.  Thanks to his selfless contributions, the lives of many children have been permanently changed for the better.  I thank Don for all his hard work on behalf of the children of our state.  He embodies all that makes New Hampshire great.”

Bass said, “Don represents the best of New Hampshire and his efforts have touched many lives.  Don’s meaningful portraits have played a role in placing many children with loving adoptive families, and he inspires his colleagues to volunteer their time and talents to a worthy goal.  I wish Don all the best and thank him for his commitment to New Hampshire children waiting to be adopted.”

Chick is the past president and a current member of the New Hampshire Professional Photographers Association (NHPPA) and for the last six years has served as the liaison between the NHPPA and the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families for the Heart Gallery project. The Heart Gallery displays professional portraits of children in the foster care system who are waiting to be adopted.  Thanks to Chick’s efforts, over 50 portraits have been taken of waiting New Hampshire children.  Fifteen of the photographed children were adopted and 30 children were matched and/or placed with permanent, adoptive families.  Over the years, Chick has photographed dozens of children and encourages other photographers to volunteer their time to this worthy project as well. 

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes through adoption.  The Angels in Adoption program was established in 1999 as a way to honor outstanding individuals.