Thomas Harr

Angels in Adoption 2005 - Connecticut

Selected by Representative Rosa DeLauro

With so many children around the world in need of a safe and loving home, it warms my heart to know that there are people like Thomas Harr who so willingly dedicate themselves to ensuring that their needs are answered. Thomas, along with his wife, Margarida, opened their hearts and their home when they decided to adopt two children from Romania. Unfortunately, their dream to bring these two children home was dashed by the Romanian Government when legislation banning all intercountry adoptions was passed in 2004. Just a month later, the Harrs were informed that the two youngsters they were to bring home had been adopted by two domestic families. Such a blow would have caused most individuals to give up but Thomas was not one to be so easily defeated. He heard the call of the hundreds of families which were left in a situation similar to his own. He has dedicated himslef to helping the For Our Children - SOS organization in advocating that these pending adoptions be processed and that revisions be made to current child welfare legislation in Romania to once again allow intercountry adoptions. He has organized letter writing campaigns to Romanian officials, become the point person for European Union Parliamentarians, and has met with the Romanian Ambassador. His efforts have been nothing short of outstanding.