Michael Fanelli and Morgan Kim-Fanelli

Angels in Adoption 2005 - California

Selected by Representative Adam Schiff

America's child welfare system would unquestionably benefit if there were more couples like Michael Fanelli and Morgan Kim-Fanelli. That's because the Fanellis, who live in Pasadena, California, not only adopted a brother and sister pair who had been placed in foster care, but they have gone out of their way to preserve - and even strengthen - the bond between their children and their biological grandparents. This heartwarming story started unfolding when Michael and Morgan, who had been married 6 years and still had not conceived, were still determined to have a family. Aware of the urgent need to find permanent, loving homes for youngsters in the child welfare system, the professionally successful couple decided to adopt a child from foster care. In April 2002, while the Fanellis were completing the final phase of their adoption home study, The Sycamores - one of Southern California's leading child-services centers - received a call from a county social worker seeing a potential adoptive home for tow young siblings of Japanese and Chinese descent. The children were matched with Michael and Morgan (Morgan was born in Seoul, South Korea) and were placed in their home on April 22, 2002. At the time of the foster placement, Annie was 2 years old, and Mark was 7 months old. The Fanellis immediately embraced the children as permanent members of their family. Despite their deep desire to adopt, the couple worked diligently with the children's biological parents during the time in which reunification services were being provided. Michael and Morgan also soon discovered that the children's paternal grandparents had previously played a meaningful role in the youngsters' lives, and they recognized the importance of preserving this relationship. The paternal grandparents faced the difficult dilemma of supporting the Fanellis in the efforts to adopt while still hoping their son's family could be reunited. The court later determined, however, that the biological parents were unable to care for the children. The Fanellis thus officially adopted Annie and Mark on January 13, 2004. The paternal grandparents attended the adoption ceremony and gave the Fanellis their unconditional support. What makes this story all the more special is that the biological grandparents continue to play a fundamental role in their grandchildren's lives, attending every t-ball game and birthday party. The Fanellis, who recently went to a wedding on "that side" of their family, not only adopted two foster-care children, but they opened their arms to a whole extended family that will continue to enrich the lives of Annie and Mark.

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