BOSTON – Senator John Kerry today announced that he has selected Mary Wallace of Billerica, Massachusetts to be honored among this year’s “Angels in Adoption” by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.

Each year, the Coalition recognizes groups and individuals that have made a difference in the lives of children through adoption, foster care of child welfare advocacy. Kerry chose Wallace to receive this year’s honor.

“Mary Wallace is an angel in her own right, there’s no other word for the way she cares for children. For almost thirty years she has opened her home and her heart to more than a hundred foster children throughout Massachusetts,” said Senator Kerry. “Her extraordinary, selfless work as a mother, a foster mother and an advocate for foster children and adoption sets an incredible example. Thank you Mary for all you do for children, and for Massachusetts.” 

For the past 11 years, Wallace has led a monthly adoptive parent support group to provide support and mentoring to other adoptive parents. Since 1988, she has also educated and trained hundreds of new foster and adoptive parents to understand and respond to the complex issues they’ll face when parenting children who have suffered trauma and abuse. 

Wallace also serves as a Family Resource Liaison for the Department of Social Services. In that role, she works with foster parents and staff to problem solve, collaborate and advocate on behalf of children in foster care. In her spare time, she volunteers as a Sunday school teacher in her church. 

“I truly am honored to receive this award, and I thank Senator Kerry for nominating me and allowing me to have this special opportunity,” said Wallace.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption was created in 1985 as a bicameral, bipartisan caucus of members of Congress to improve adoption policy and practice, and to focus public attention on the advantages of adoption. Senator Kerry is an active member of the coalition.

Wallace will be honored at a gala in Washington, D.C. this evening.