Sarah and Rob Sporney, Michigan
Sarah Sporny
Welcome to the foster family story project. Here you will find stories of amazing foster families. CHAMPS is proud to feature these families and we invite you to join in saying #ThanksFosterFamilies for all they do to help children and families. These stories are shareable through Facebook and Twitter.
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Sarah Sporny
John and Christina Hayes were recognized as the 2019 Foster Parents of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors. They originally requested to care for young children and infants, but when they were asked to take care of a 15-year-old, special needs child, they immediately agreed. They made sure that all of his medical and educational needs were met in addition to participating in activities like basketball, baseball, and golf. They have worked with both of his biological parents to make sure they continue to be involved in his life. He is now 18 years old and they want him to remain with them as part of their family. In addition, the Hayes family welcomed a three-week-old baby girl, who was placed with them last October.
Ohio's Allen County Children Services honored Jeff and Bonnie Edwards this month for being a foster parents for 40 years. Upon receiving this recognition, Bonnie says, "We go ahead and just accept them in our home like our own family. We don’t have any kind of stipulations on them as they come, until later on if they need it. But it’s like having your own child." Jeff says, "It’s been a rewarding experience for us. We receive a lot of accolades for what we do, but it’s a two-way street. Those children have blessed our lives tremendously."
Corrine and Roger Vogel will have been foster parents for 46 years, first in Pennsylvania and nearly 34 years in California. The couple has cared for 142 foster children, including the six they adopted. It also includes the infant girl – not yet 5 months old – who they are caring for now.