Behind every foster care statistic is a child who enters foster care because of circumstances they did not create, often involving abuse, neglect or unsafe living conditions. Some lose the legal relationship with all parents and become legally available for adoption—yet continue waiting for a safe, loving, permanent family.

Children may spend years in temporary care, and experience multiple placements, separation from siblings, trauma and uncertainty. For some, childhood passes while they wait for someone to make a lifelong commitment. Many children age out of foster care and transition into adulthood without permanent legal parents.

Iowans for Adoption is asking America to pay attention.

These important messages will take center stage at the From Hope to Home Gala, Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa.

“This is about more than statistics. Thousands of children’s lives are being shaped while they wait for permanency, belonging and a safe family of their own,” said Dr. Diana Lang, Executive Director and Founder of The National Center for Adoption, doing business as Iowans for Adoption. “The Gala is an educational and advocacy event—and an opportunity for people across the nation to ask a powerful question: What can each of us do to help ensure every child has a safe, loving, permanent family?”

From Hope to Home: Turning Awareness into Action

The evening will feature dinner, guest speakers, education and opportunities for individuals and businesses to make a difference. Although the Gala is being held in Iowa, the issue reaches every state. Guest speaker, Ruth Eley, L.M.S.W., will share about raising 4 biologically related children, adopting 18 from foster care, and fostering thousands.

Although the Gala is being held in Iowa, the issue reaches every state. Support generated through the event will advance efforts to:
• Recruit and support foster and adoptive families
• Help families navigate foster care and adoption
• Assist with adoption finalization expenses
• Provide family navigation and adoption resources
• Support children and families pursuing permanency
• Educate communities about the Safe Haven Act

Every Community Can Help

Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can help by learning about foster care and adoption, sharing accurate information, supporting families, sponsoring the Gala, donating auction or raffle items, or making a financial contribution. For more information, visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/from-hope-to-home-gala.

The goal is simple: help more children move from uncertainty to safety and permanency—from hope to home.

EVENT INFORMATION
WHAT: From Hope to Home Gala
WHEN: Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 6:00–8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Reiman Gardens, Ames, Iowa
TITLE SPONSOR: Iowa Farm Bureau
HOSTED BY: Iowans for Adoption / The National Center for Adoption

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
National and regional media are invited to cover the Gala and interview child-welfare advocates, adoption professionals, adoptive families, adults with lived experience in foster care and aging out of foster care, Ruth Eley, and community leaders.

Potential stories include the realities behind foster care statistics, the nation's Safe Haven Law, the difference between foster care and adoption, barriers to permanency, recruiting and supporting families, children aging out of foster care, the Safe Haven Law, and what communities can do to help children find permanent families.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADOPTION / IOWANS FOR ADOPTION
The National Center for Adoption, doing business as Iowans for Adoption, is a statewide, volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to promoting permanency, reducing barriers to adoption, supporting children and families, keeping babies safe, and connecting people with foster care and adoption resources. Through education, public awareness, advocacy, family navigation and adoption assistance, the organization works to help all children move toward safe, stable, permanent families.