Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) announces that Ricky and Romy Rorex of Huntsville are one of the 277 couples or individuals recognized as "Angels in Adoption" by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Cramer selected them to be honored in a national ceremony held in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 24, 2002 for the adoption of their son Nicholas.

"I was pleased to nominate Ricky and Romy Rorex for this award," said Cramer. "They have provided their son Nicholas with a safe and loving home where he will be surrounded by friends and family throughout his life. I commend Ricky and Romy for making sure Nicholas can grow up in this loving family environment."

In the U.S. alone, more than 550,000 children are in the foster care system and tens of thousands are available for adoption. CCAI raises awareness about the foster children and orphans in the U.S. and around the world in need of permanent homes and invited Members of Congress to recognize the unsung heroes of adoption by presenting them with the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award.

Ricky and Romy Rorex are actively involved in their Huntsville community and church. Ricky is an electrical engineer at Adtran and Romy is a social worker. They serve as directors of a young adult Sunday School department in their church where Ricky is also a deacon. Romy is the primary originator of the Sarah Tate Reading Room, an after school tutoring and friendship group for children in a public housing community, and is a member of the Councill Court Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club.

Ricky and Romy say that they have never experienced such an outpouring of gifts and good wishes as when they were selected to be parents to Nicholas. They will attest that Nicholas was truly an "answer to prayer" and celebrated the miracle of his birth with friends from all walks of life.