Pat and Anne Baldwin

Angels in Adoption 2005 - Alabama

Selected by Representative Spencer Bachus

I am delighted to designate Pat Baldwin and her daughter, Anne Baldwin, as 2005 Angels in Adoption TM from the Sixth District of Alabama. In 1978, Dr. Robert and Pat Baldwin adopted infant daughter Anne, of Asian background. Because of the long and fifficult road she encountered in adopting a foreign child, Pat was inspired to offfer help to others as they pursue international adoptions. In 1979, she founded Alabama Friends of Adoption (AFOA), an adoption advocacy group for parents. AFOA not only helped parents, but also sought to find homes for children with special needs. Pat advocates for the adoption of children regardless of their age, race, background, medical and mental conditions, or country of origin. In 1982 and 1992, AFOA won Public Citizen of the Year awards. In addition, Pat founded Amigo de Alabama to provide aid to orphanages in developing countries. In 1988, Pat's Villa Hope became the first International Adoption Agency in Alabama. SInce its inception, Villa Hope has found homes for more than 1,200 children.

In 1985, when she was 7 years old, Anne Baldwin began to travel with Pat whenever possible. It was during one of these trips that Anne decided to join "her mother's work." As she grew, Anne continued to travel with her mother around the world, studied Spanish in Guatemala, and worked in an orphanage in Bolivia. In college, she specialised in Social Work and Spanish. During that time, she lobbied for passage of an adoption bill in South America and met with the House of Representatives in La Paz, Bolivia. In May, 2005, Anne became the Executive Director of Villa Hope. Together, mother and daughter continue to help children without families of their own. Their selfless dedication to their chosen work has give "life" to abandoned and orphaned babies and young children all around the world. They have put smiles on the faces of many new adoptive parents who have benefited from their work.