On Saturday, November 22nd, 2025, the doors of Exploration Place opened to welcome families, case teams, volunteers, civic leaders, and community partners for a day that countless children and families had been waiting for. What began as a quiet morning quickly grew into a vibrant, joy-filled celebration of love and permanency. By the day’s end, 37 Kansas foster children had been adopted into 21 loving families, marking one of EmberHope’s most memorable National Adoption Days to date.
A Morning Filled With Anticipation
As families arrived, children gravitated toward the exciting activities surrounding them — balloon artists, face painting, exotic animals from Tanganyika Wildlife Park, and the upbeat music provided by DJ Semper, whose playlist set a fun and welcoming tone. Inside the museum, supportive agencies and businesses handed out goodie bags and treats, and families gathered into the main venue hall to hear from our speakers.
To kick off the ceremony, Nickaila Sandate, EmberHope President and CEO, shared encouraging words for the new families, including sharing her own adoption journey with her son. From there, varying civic and community leaders shared their messages of support, including Sedgwick County Commissioner Ryan Baty, Princess of America Junior Ambassador Ava Johnson, Representative Cyndi Howerton, award-winning journalist Susan Peters, and Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau.
Once the welcome ceremony concluded, many volunteers worked together to help families find their way to the designated finalization rooms where life-changing moments were about to unfold.
For Wendee Harris, Adoption Supervisor, the energy felt different this year.
“What stood out to me most was the growth we achieved,” Harris shared. “We had more adoptions finalize this year than last. Both internally at EmberHope and externally with our community partners, we grew and collaborated more to ensure a successful event.”
Moments That Capture the Heart
Throughout the morning and early afternoon, families rotated between activities, photos, and their scheduled adoption finalizations. Each room held its own unique story, but one moment deeply stood out to Harris.
During the adoption of a teenager, Judge Keith signed her paperwork and confirmed that she officially had her new name. The teen immediately asked, “What about my birth certificate?” When the attorney assured her that even that had been updated, she jumped up and down with excitement.
Her adoptive parents shared that she had been waiting to frame her new birth certificate — a symbol of identity, belonging, and her next chapter. It was a moment that rippled through the room, reminding everyone why this day mattered so deeply.
A Celebration Designed for Families
After their adoption finalizations, families enjoyed a free lunch generously provided by Wendy’s and Pizza Ranch. Many headed to the Lamphouse photo booth or posed with a professional photographer for their first official family portrait — photos many parents said they would treasure forever.
“The children and families responded so well to the celebration atmosphere,” Harris said. “One child even asked her case team to take photos with her, too!”
In true EmberHope fashion, the small details mattered. Kid-friendly food options such as pizza were intentionally selected, and when one family’s grandfather hadn’t arrived yet, staff paused the schedule so he could be present for the moment they had all been waiting for. Every intentional decision was made to honor the families.
The Work Behind the Magic
Although the event looked effortless on the surface, months of preparation made it possible.
“My team worked hard behind the scenes,” Harris explained. “They submitted the required paperwork, ordered backpacks with children’s new initials, and made sure we were all there to celebrate together.”
Each backpack handed to a child represented more than a gift — it represented a fresh start. Many donors made these backpacks possible, allowing each child to leave with a $100 gift card to spend on whatever they liked! Additionally, the bags featured gift certificates for Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-A, and so much more.
A Mission Made Visible
National Adoption Day is one of the clearest reflections of EmberHope’s mission: to support children, strengthen families, and ensure every child has the opportunity to belong.
“This event shows that we are working hard toward finding forever families for children,” Harris shared. “It gives me hope.”
That hope was echoed by Warren Sheridan, Vice President of EmberHope Connections, who reflected on the significance of the day. “Many of these kids that are getting adopted today, it’s the first day of the rest of their lives, and gives them some new hope, and gives them that ability for them to continue to thrive and move forward past some of the trauma that they have sustained in their lifetimes.” This was a sentiment shared by many in attendance.
EmberHope staff and supporters also expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of community involvement. Autumn Huerter, EmberHope Marketing Director, shared, “Events like this remind us why we do the work we do, and we are incredibly grateful for the donors, supporters, and advocates who show up for our youth and families.”
A Day To Be Remembered
As the afternoon came to a close, families left Exploration Place carrying backpacks stitched with their new initials, adoption decrees tucked safely into folders and smiles that made it clear this day will be remembered for years to come. One lucky family even went home with a custom commissioned art piece featuring a sunflower and lavender bouquet — a final raffle surprise to cap off a beautiful celebration.
National Adoption Day was about more than adoption finalizations. It was about new beginnings, renewed hope, and the power of community to surround children with love and support.
For 37 children, November 22nd, 2025, wasn’t just a date — it was the beginning of a forever story.
Thank You to Our Incredible Sponsors
This unforgettable day simply wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our donors and corporate sponsors, including Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Conco Construction, Forvis Mazars, Sunflower Bank, 6 Meridian, Watkins Public Strategies, Pankratz & Hodge: Attorneys at Law, and Central Community Church. Because of your support, we were able to create a truly magical and memorable celebration for our youth and families.
We were also blessed to have the wonderful team from Preister and Partners-Keller Williams Hometown Partners volunteer their time to help serve lunch and support families throughout the event. Their willingness to jump in wherever needed is deeply appreciated. They also were a generous donor in addition to their volunteer support!
Our heartfelt thanks extend to the incredible vendors who brought the day to life. DJ Semper kept the energy high with fun, family-friendly music, and Taste the Screen Photography stepped away from their typical restaurant and food photography to capture beautiful, professional family portraits. River City Visuals captured the day through heartfelt videography, while Dutch’s Greenhouse brightened the venue with beautiful poinsettias. Families were thrilled by the fun Star Wars character appearances provided by the 70th Explorers Garrison, and Tanganyika Wildlife Park added excitement by bringing their beloved animal ambassadors. Love of Character tied it all together with a stunning balloon arch that set the perfect tone for celebration.
We also want to express our appreciation to the additional vendors who helped make the day even more memorable. Just Face It – Face Painting added creativity and color with beautifully detailed artwork and Wichita Kids Party provided fun and engaging balloon animals! Lamphouse Photo Booth Co.—generously sponsored by Martin Pringle Law Firm and Hinkle Law Firm LLC—offered families another wonderful way to capture joyful memories throughout the day.
Get Involved with EmberHope Today!
If you’re inspired by the joy and hope of National Adoption Day, there are many ways to get involved. Whether you’re interested in fostering or adopting a child, or want to support EmberHope as a donor or volunteer, your involvement helps create moments like these and makes a lasting difference in the lives of children and families. Learn more and join us in making a meaningful impact today.
Head over to KAKE News to watch an interview about the event!
