Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today announced his nomination of Ryan and Amber Johnson of Sioux Falls for the 2012 Angels in Adoption Award. This award is presented annually by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, of which Senator Thune is a member. This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of men and women across the country who have opened their hearts and homes to children in need of a family. In addition to opening their home to several foster children, the Johnsons have adopted a three-year-old boy and are in the process of adopting his younger brother.
“Ryan and Amber are great examples of what it means to make the dream of a family a reality for every child,” said Thune. “This young couple has overcome personal struggles and has used their life lessons to create a warm, loving home for children in need of a nurturing environment to grow and develop. I hope the Johnsons’ work and story will inspire other South Dakota families to make a difference in the life of a child.”
"It is amazing the impact a child can have on your life and the impact a family can have on a child's life in a short amount of time,” said the Johnsons. “We are very honored to be Senator Thune's nominees for Angels in Adoption."
The Johnsons have welcomed four foster children into their home, adopted their son Lukias, and are in the process of finalizing his younger brother’s adoption. Ryan is Native American, which allows the family to work within the parameters of state and federal law to more easily provide homes to Native American children in need. Ryan and Amber plan to continue to take in other foster children, giving each of these children a place to call home.
The Johnsons, along with Angels in Adoption nominees from around the country, will be invited to an awards banquet sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in Washington, D.C. later this year.