AMES, IOWA (August 28, 2026) — Across the nation, many children have lost their legal relationship with every parent — and are waiting to be adopted by a permanent, safe, loving family. Children enter foster care because of circumstances they did not create (typically related to abuse, neglect, or unsafe living conditions). They may experience separation from siblings, multiple placements, trauma, uncertainty, years in temporary care, and aging out of the foster care system.
A National Issue with a Local Call to Action
This reality is at the heart of the From Hope to Home Gala, taking place Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa.
"The Gala is an educational and advocacy event,” said Dr Diana Lang, Executive Director/Founder Iowans for Adoption.
“This is an opportunity for everyone to ask a very important question: What can each of us do to help a child move to a permanent, safe, loving family?”
The event is being held in Iowa, but the issue reaches every state. Support generated through the Gala will help advance programs focused on:
- Assisting with adoption finalization expenses
- Supporting children waiting in foster care
- Recruiting foster and adoptive families
- Helping families navigate the foster care and adoption processes
- Providing family navigation and adoption resources
- Educating the nation about the Safe Haven Law
The evening will include:
- Dinner
- Guest speakers: Rep Brian Lohse and Ruth Eley (adopted eighteen from Iowa's foster care system)
- Opportunities to support children and families
- Education about foster care, adoption, and the Safe Haven Act
How To Make an Impact
Individuals, families, businesses, organizations, and community groups are invited to participate by:
- Sharing information about foster care, adoption, and the Safe Haven Act
- Learning more about becoming a foster or adoptive family
- Attending or supporting the From Hope to Home Gala
- Becoming an event sponsor
- Donating auction or raffle items
- Making a financial contribution
Iowans for Adoption is a statewide, volunteer-led non-profit dedicated to promoting permanency for children, reducing barriers to adoption, supporting children and families, keeping babies safe, and connecting individuals with foster care and adoption resources. Through public awareness, education, advocacy, family navigation, and adoption assistance, the organization works to help all children have a safe, stable, permanent family.
