[WhiteRob]

Steven Curtis Chapman will participate at the Congressional Angels In Adoption Awards Banquet, an annual event bringing Congress and other public leaders together to celebrate the blessings of adoption. This year’s event will be held in Washington, D.C. on September 30th at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Chapman is no stranger to the annual gala, and this year is set to perform for the attendees along with celebrating this year’s national award recipients - Bruce Willis and Muhammad and Lonnie Ali. This yearly banquet is an event declaring the most Congressional support of any child welfare event in the nation, while also being the only program allowing over 150 Members of Congress to select a citizen of their choice as an “Angel In Adoption” award recipient, as well as recognize the “National Angel In Adoption” honorees.

Along with Chapman, Willis, and the Alis, other appearances will be made by Senator Larry E. Craig, Senator Mary Landrieu, Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Minority Whip of the Senate Harry Reid, over 50 members of Congress as well as other Angels in Adoption award previous recipients from around the nation.

Also performing at the event is ForeFront Records recording artist, Geoff Moore. Close friends to the Chapman family, Moore and his wife, Jan, also have two adopted daughters from China, Anna Grace and the recently adopted Ashley Rose. Following the adoption of Anna Grace, Moore was moved to record “Swept Away,” a song he had written for his current project, A Beautiful Sound, in her honor. Moore will be performing that song at the upcoming banquet, as well as perform a song with Steven.

In the fall of 2001, Chapman and his wife Mary Beth were presented with the distinctive “National Angel In Adoption” honor, along with the late Dave Thomas. At the 2002 banquet, Chapman performed at the gala, entertaining the crowd with his adoption-penned tune, “When Love Takes You In,” a song written for his first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, and namesake to the Chapman’s adoption foundation, Shaohannah’s Hope (www.shaohannahshope.com).

The 2003 event sponsors are the Freddie Mac Foundation, which is the Founding and Premier Sponsor, as well as the Target Corporation, a Premier Sponsor.

The Congressional Angels In Adoption Awards Banquet is sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and celebrates individuals chosen by members of Congress from all 50 states who have made a difference in the lives of children and families through adoption. CCAI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving adoption policy and practice.

There are currently more than 550,000 children in foster care in the United States, with more than 120,000 of these children in immediate need of an adoptive home. There is an estimated 30 million orphans worldwide. The purpose of the Congressional Angels in Adoption Program is to raise public awareness of the many different ways that committed individuals can help children and families through adoption.

The Chapman’s adoption foundation, Shaohannah’s Hope, exists to care for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial burden of adoption. These families can provide not only love and support needed for this life, but also provide a child with the knowledge of God’s plan for his or her eternal life with a forever family called The Body of Christ.

A portion of the proceeds from Chapman’s albums Declaration and All About Love benefit the foundation.