(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ) -- In commemoration of National Adoption Day, set to take place on Saturday, November 19, 2023, Middlesex County hosted its 16th annual Adoption Day event on Wednesday, November 15. This year’s Adoption Day event finalized the adoptions of three children, contributing to a total of 68 adoptions completed since the beginning of the year.

Middlesex County’s Adoption Day event, a highlight during National Adoption Month each November, aims to celebrate and encourage adoption throughout the year, facilitated by the Office of the Surrogate.

The Middlesex County Office of the Surrogate plays a pivotal role in ensuring the completion of all necessary paperwork, meeting procedural requirements, and scheduling timely court dates for various types of adoptions, including stepparent adoptions, aunt/uncle and grandparent adoptions, private placement, Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) adoptions, agency adoptions, and adult adoptions.

E. Martin Davidoff, Esq., Master of Ceremonies; Middlesex County Bar Foundation

“For two decades, National Adoption Day has been remarkably successful in promoting and celebrating adoptions, as well as the expansion of families everywhere, and Middlesex County’s National Adoption Day event has been a crucial part of that story for the past sixteen years,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “I am thankful for the hard work done by the County Surrogate Claribel Cortes and her office, as well as the Middlesex County Superior Court, that make this event so special.”

“Middlesex County is deeply committed to fostering the creation, expansion, and fulfillment of families through adoption, extending this commitment not only on National Adoption Day but every single day,” said Middlesex County Surrogate Claribel Cortes. “It is a privilege to celebrate these growing families, and the start of a new life, at this special event. Bearing witness to these heartwarming moments in person reaffirms my sense of hope for a brighter future.”

Middlesex County’s 2023 Adoption Day event was sponsored by the Middlesex County Superior Court, the Middlesex County Surrogate’s Office, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners, the Middlesex County Bar Foundation, and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Middlesex County.

Sharing the significance of the annual Adoption Day event and the positive impact it has on the County were speakers including:

* E. Martin Davidoff, Esq., Master of Ceremonies; Middlesex County Bar Foundation

* Hon. Michael A. Toto, Assignment Judge, Middlesex County Superior Court

* Hon. Deborah J. Venezia, Presiding Judge, Family Division Middlesex County Court

* Hon. Robert Karabinchak, 18th Legislative District, New Jersey Assembly

* Jay Mascolo, Esq., Rebenack Aronow & Mascolo, Adoptive Parent

* William Bossa, Adoptive Parent

William Bossa, Adoptive Parent

For more information on the services provided by the Middlesex County Office of the Surrogate, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov.

Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, 19 park systems, and world-class healthcare and research facilities making it one of the nation’s most dynamic regions and a leader in technology, transportation, the arts, and food innovation. As one of the most diverse populations in the country, Middlesex County is home to over 860,000 residents living throughout 25 municipalities. The County's award-winning Middlesex County Magnet Schools system and two-year Middlesex College uphold its position as #1 in the state for best schools, offering secondary and postsecondary education and workforce development programs that create a unique ecosystem where opportunities abound. Conveniently located between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is a leading destination for businesses and residents alike to live, work, and play – and has been since the 17th century.