THE GIFT OF FAMILY ADOPTIVE PARENTS REJOICE AT EVENT.

Byline: TONY CASTRO Staff Writer

Carri and Calvin Richardson of Mission Hills thought they had the perfect family with their two children, Calvin Jr. and Chloe.

``But our family just became a little more perfect today,'' Carri said Saturday as she and her husband of seven years adopted their 2-year-old nephew Caleb-Jerome.

The Richardsons were among more than 200 foster-care adoptions finalized Saturday on National Adoption Day, when some 3,300 children were adopted into permanent families throughout the country.

The event transformed the fourth floor of the Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court in Monterey Park into a festive playground, with families and friends celebrating the adoptions while costumed cartoon characters helped entertain the children.

Meanwhile, in courtrooms on both the fourth and third floors, families and their attorneys met with judges to hammer out the final paperwork involved in the legal proceedings.

In at least two instances, Hollywood celebrities -- actresses Christine Lahti and Daryl Hannah -- sat in on the courtroom adoption ceremonies to show their support for the families and organizations involved.

``What you're witnessing here is a 2006 version of a love-in,'' said Michael Nash, presiding judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court, who oversaw the legal proceedings.

For the Richardsons, the day was a special cause for celebration because it was an opportunity to keep little Caleb-Jerome close to his family.

``His parents were no longer able to take care of him,'' said Carri Richardson, an interpreter for the deaf. ``He was in the foster-care system, and they were about to put him up for adoption.

``When we heard that, we stepped up and said we'd take him.

``Before we got married, we had talked about having a child of our own and maybe adopting two or three. It so happened that we've had two of our own, and now this is another blessing.''

``We have a good home and comfortable life,'' said Calvin Richardson, ``and this is an opportunity to share our lifestyle with Caleb-Jerome, and he has a chance to grow up in a solid, stable family environment.''

Sharon Germyn of Reseda, who has a grown daughter, found herself becoming a mother again as she adopted 6-year-old Jazze.

``I knew her family, (and) I met her when she was six months old,'' Germyn said. ``And I've actually had her off and on for the last couple of years before she went into the foster-care system.

``I wasn't allowed into the hearings because I'm not a blood relative, so I wrote a letter (and asked) to see a judge, and he granted me visitation, and it just went on from there.''

The Richardsons and Germyn were typical of the adoptive parents beaming with joy at Saturday's event in Los Angeles, which is the birthplace of National Adoption Day -- an event designed to raise awareness for finding permanent homes for some 114,000 children waiting to be adopted in the country.

The Adoption Day campaign has also gained the active support of many parents who have adopted children in the past. Thomas and Virginia Marris of La Puente had been married 17 years when they went to an adoption fair two years ago.

There the Marrises adopted three biological siblings -- Kassandra, 13, Albert, 11, and Anthony, 9 -- who had lived in many foster homes.

``You don't really know until you have children the love and joy you're missing without them,'' said Thomas Marris.

``We are very supportive of organizations involved in adoption and came to show our support today.''

At a news conference, Nash called on ``the courts and child welfare advocates (to) do what they can to ease the adoption process for the children in their care and at the same time raise awareness of the need for more adoptive families.''

This year, for the first time, National Adoption Day events took place in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

``The holiday season is a time for family,'' said Rita Soronen of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a founding sponsor. ``And it is so rewarding to know that we have helped these children find a permanent family of their own.''

tony.castro(at)dailynews.com

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Sharon Germyn and her adopted daughter Jazze, 6, attended the National Adoption Day event at Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court in Monterey Park.

(2 -- color) Carrie and Calvin Richardson with adopted children Caleb- Jerome, 2, and Chloe, 2, and Calvin Jr., 5. The family attended the National Adoption Day Celebration at the Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court in Monterey Park. The family lives in the San Fernando Valley.

(3 -- color) Thomas and Virginia Marris, center, adopted Kassandra,13, left, Anthony, 9, and Albert, 11, at the National Adoption Day Celebration event Saturday. The family lives in La Puente.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer