Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 3.djvu/737

 PROCLAMATION 5571—NOV. 14, 1986

101 STAT. 2035

America approximately 36,000 children are legally eligible and waiting for adoption. These children have special needs that loving and generous people can meet. Some of these children are physically, mentally, or emotionally handicapped, while some are older, or belong to minority groups, or have brothers and sisters and need to be adopted together. Through the combined efforts of public and private child welfare agencies, church and civic groups, adoptive parent and advocacy groups, businesses, and the communications media, loving families are being found for these wonderful children. More and more Americans are also encouraging adoption as the best solution for single women facing crisis pregnancies. Thousands upon thousands of Americans long for children even as more than 4,000 unborn babies perish in our country each day by abortion. As a people we must do more to give all the support we can, during and after pregnancy, to the courageous and compassionate mothers who choose adoption as a means of giving their little ones a lifetime of love with a permanent family. "Nobody has ever measured, even poets, how much a heart can hold," wrote Zelda Fitzgerald. We do well during this Thanksgiving season to remember that the human heart can hold a great deal indeed. Let us call to mind the children, both here in the United States and in other countries, who need families, and let us honor our adoptive families and the brave people whose sacrifice and selflessness make such families possible. The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 306, has designated the week beginning November 23, 1986, as "National Adoption Week" and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning November 23, 1986, as National Adoption Week, and I call on all Americans, governmental and private agencies to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eleventh. RONALD REAGAN

Proclamation 5571 of November 14, 1986

National Philanthropy Day, 1986 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The literal meaning of "philanthropy" is "affection for mankind." Throughout our history, we Americans have displayed this trait through our generous charitable giving and our spirit of neighbor helping neighbor. We help each other, and we reach out to help people all over the world. Our tradi-

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