Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, has named Zina Hardin of Roanoke to represent Virginia’s Sixth District at the 12th annual “Angels in Adoption” banquet, which will be held in Washington, D.C. The banquet honors one nominee from each congressional district who is making a difference in the lives of children through adoption.
“Zina Hardin is a person that people rely on,” said Congressman Goodlatte. “Some would even say she is a natural caretaker. Over the years her role as a caretaker has spanned from caring for sick relatives, tutoring struggling students, providing a safe house for battered women, and as a foster mother for children in need. Today, Zina’s role as a caretaker continues as a mother of four children and particularly for her three children with special needs that live at home and that’s why I am honored to nominate her as the 6th Congressional District’s ‘Angel in Adoption’.”
Zina Hardin’s biological daughter has Down Syndrome and she has two sons that she fostered prior to their adoptions. Her eldest son, Tomas is legally blind and suffers from brain-damage. He is almost fully reliant on Zina.
She sees successes in things most parents take for granted. He can walk and he eats more than pureed food — both things he didn’t do before he came to Zina’s home. Aisel, Zina’s youngest son, first arrived at her house nearly starved. Aisel has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a history of anger issues; however, in the Hardin house he is flourishing.
Zina feels blessed by her family. She has stated, “some people feel children born with disabilities are a burden; I feel they are a blessing. If you have the heart to work with them and appreciate them, then they can enrich your lives because they teach you about yourself and the world.” Although Zina has transformed the lives of her children, she still wishes she had the resources to adopt more children.
“The ‘Angels in Adoption’ campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness about adoption and honor individuals like Zina Hardin for their dedication to the care of children,” Goodlatte said. “Ms. Hardin, through service in foster care and through adoption, has shown that ordinary people can do extraordinary things in the lives of others. She is certainly more than deserving of recognition.”
The banquet is organized by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), and is held annually at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. This year, CCAI will honor actresses Kristin Chenoweth and Rhea Perlman and the producers of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” as their national “Angels in Adoption”.
