On the evening of November 1, 2025, Barker gathered with hundreds of friends, families, and supporters at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland, to celebrate eight decades of impact.
The event, fittingly held on the first day of National Adoption Month, was a heartfelt tribute to Barker’s mission of building, supporting, and sustaining families through every chapter of the adoption journey.
A Full-Circle Celebration
Barker’s Board Chair, Melissa Gray-Hughes, herself an adopted person, opened the evening with humor and perspective. Welcoming everyone—members of the adoption community, adoptive and birth parents, children, current and former trustees, staff, sponsors, partners, friends, and volunteers—Gray-Hughes called the gathered group the “heart and soul of Barker.” Reflecting on Barker’s origins, she took guests back to 1945, when Richard and Ruth Barker set off on a journey to reimagine what family could mean. “The Barkers were rebuilding hearts,” she said. “They were redefining what it meant to belong—through the simple but radical idea that every child deserves a family.”
Grey-Hughes’ heartfelt words marked a full-circle moment as Barker honored two women who embody the organization’s legacy—Muriel Johnson and Shirley Windle—among the very first children adopted through the Agency. Their presence reminded everyone that Barker’s story isn’t just history—it’s a living, breathing family. A family that, at times, leans on Barker for their lifelong, wrap-around support for anyone touched by adoption.
A Night of Storytelling, Love, and Laughter
The evening featured a special performance by Alison Larkin, internationally acclaimed writer, comedian, and author of The English American and Grief…A Comedy. Adopted through Barker as a baby, Alison’s performance was both deeply moving and joyfully relatable, capturing the emotional complexity of adoption and the power of belonging. Larkin’s performance was accompanied by Emmy Award winning composer and producer, Gary Schreiner.
Guests also enjoyed a video tribute highlighting Barker’s mission and legacy—celebrating stories of hope, resilience, and lifelong connection. As Gray-Hughes noted after the screening, “Every story and every face you just saw reminds us why Barker’s mission matters so deeply and why your support ensures it continues.” As a meaningful keepsake from the night, Barker gifted every attendee a copy of Alison Larkin’s newly published book, GRIEF…A Comedy.
A Full-Circle Moment of Gratitude
Among the many powerful connections celebrated that evening was one shared by guest Tianna Clark, a 49-year-old adoptee who attended with her mother, Joyce. Tianna later reflected that she was surprised by how emotional she became upon arriving at the celebration.
“It was such a full-circle moment,” she said. “I just felt blessed…grateful to know Barker better, and grateful for everything my mom has done for me.”
Overcome with emotion, Tianna said she kissed her mother during the event and simply said “thank you.”
Tianna was adopted through Barker and first contacted the agency at age 35, seeking information about her birth parents. Although she has never met her birth mother, she has seen a photo and recognizes herself in her birth mother’s features.
“I pray my birth mother is at peace with her decision,” Tianna shared.
As a Black woman raised by a Black family, she also expressed deep gratitude for the thoughtful, culturally aligned placement. “I’m thankful my birth mother and Barker had the foresight to place me with a Black family. It shaped who I am.”
Her reflection is exactly the kind of lived experience that honors Barker’s past and illuminates its future. It serves as a powerful reminder that the agency’s mission touches identity, belonging, and family in the most profound ways.
Celebrating Community and Generosity
The celebration also included a lively Raise-the-Paddle, led by Sherry Truhlar, professional auctioneer and founder of Red Apple Auctions. Guests raised their paddles high, and their generosity even higher, in support of Barker’s programs that serve adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families across all stages of life.
Barker’s Executive Director Sue Hollar closed the evening with gratitude, recognizing the community that continues to make Barker’s mission possible.
“Our theme—Then. Now. Always.—reflects not only where we’ve been, but our promise to remain here for generations to come,” she said. “Barker is family—and family is forever.”
With Gratitude
The Barker Adoption Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to its sponsors and partners whose generosity brought this milestone celebration to life, including:
Presenting Sponsors
- The Altman Sherman Family
- Advanced Aviation Team & The Brunson-Pitts Family
Event Sponsors
- Wiley Rhein LLP and Kathryn Bucher & Stephen Jessey
- Clarke Construction Group, LLC
- Megan and Vincent Dennis
- John and Sarah Freeman Foundation
- Just for Kids
- McLean School (Head of School Barry Davis along with Barker Board Chair and Associate Head of School, Melissa Gray-Hughes, attended the celebration.)
Creative Partner
- Bethany Fraser and Twenty 1 Media Group, for their vision, creativity, and heart in bringing this special evening to life.
All photography by Taglieri Photography.
View the complete list of sponsors and the full program from the evening here.
Looking Ahead
As Barker turns the page to its next chapter, the message from the night was clear: the work continues.
For 80 years, Barker has built families rooted in love, guided by truth, and strengthened by community. And for generations to come, that mission will endure—Then. Now. Always.
The Barker Adoption Foundation, founded in 1945, is a nationally respected nonprofit adoption agency providing comprehensive, lifelong services for adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families. Barker’s programs include domestic, international, and older child adoption, as well as counseling, education, and community outreach. The organization has offices in Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia, and serves individuals and families across the United States.
Learn more at www.barkeradoptionfoundation.org.
Donate now or at any time here.