NEWS RELEASE

Washington D.C.  – A Mora couple who has adopted 13 children will receive the Angels in  Adoption award this weekend from Minnesota's Eighth District Congressman Jim Oberstar.

Dean and Theresa  Julkowski and their children are among dozens of families in 44 states who  are being recognized by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption for the extraordinary effort they have made on behalf of children in need of homes.

Oberstar will present the Julkowski family with the Angels in Adoption Award  at the following time and location:

Time: Saturday, October 17, 2009, 4 p.m.
Location: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Parish Center, 210 Forest Avenue East,  Mora

Oberstar serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption  that organizes the annual Angels in Adoption Award.

This coalition is a  nonpartisan alliance of more than 210 members of Congress dedicated to  improving adoption policies and services. The coalition focuses public  attention on the advantages of adoption for all concerned, including  children, biological parents and adoptive parents.  “The work of this  caucus isn’t about politics; it’s about families,” said Oberstar, “It is literally a labor of love.”


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Oberstar submitted the following statement to the Angels in Adoption Award  Committee on behalf of the Julkowski family:

I have seen many families in my congressional district who have made a  profound contribution in adoption, and this year, I am delighted to recognize  Dean and Theresa Julkowski of Mora, Minnesota.

Dean and Teresa Julkowski have 14 children; 13 of whom joined their family  through the blessing of adoption and from the foster care system.

Dean and Teresa are passionate about parenting children who so desperately  need a family and home to call their own. Teresa states that this is her true  calling. They also realize the importance
of keeping sibling groups together, coming from large families themselves.

Two months after their marriage in 1995, Dean and Teresa welcomed their first  child when he was just 2 months old. Dean and Teresa sought to expand their family,  and in 2001, they were matched with a beautiful sibling group of four  children who had been in foster care for seven years.

The Julkowskis are shown with their adoptive family.

Knowing that they had more room in their hearts and home, Dean and Teresa  adopted in 2003 a sibling group of 3 children who had previously spent 3  years in foster care. When another beautiful match occurred in 2005, the  Julkowski family welcomed another beautiful sibling group of five children to their "forever family".

In addition to their devoted commitment to welcoming children from foster  care, Theresa Julkowski has also served as the coordinator of an adoptive and  foster parent support group for Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties in my  congressional district.

Through their advocacy and action, Dean and Teresa Julkowski have  demonstrated that dedicated families can make a difference to promote adoption.

For their personal leadership and example, I am very pleased to recognize  Dean and Teresa Julkowski as my Angels in Adoption for 2009.