On Saturday Fulton County Juvenile Court will observe the eighth annual National Adoption Day ceremony. Chief Judge Belinda Edwards will preside over the ceremony, which will feature special guest actress Victoria Rowell, adoptive parents, attorneys, and Department of Family and Children Service officials. It will be held beginning at 8 a.m. at the Judge Romae T. Powell Juvenile Justice Center, 395 Pryor St., SW, in Atlanta.

During this ceremony, the court expects to finalize more than 25 adoptions or “Forever Families”.

Wallace Ponder, of College Park, knows all to well the feeling of an adoptive parent on that day. Last Nov. 15, he officially adopted his three boys, Wallace, 13, Quentin, 11, and Demeco, 9.

Ponder, single, never thought he would even be a candidate for fostering or adoption until the group Families First visited his church, Victory Baptist in Stone Mountain.

“We had a guest speaker that came out and left pamphlets on fostering and adopting,” said Ponder. “I honestly didn’t think they would adopt to single parents. I’d never seen or heard of it.”

But Ponder did get his chance at fostering. After completing the required parenting classes, Ponder became a foster parent to identical twin boys, while also mentoring his future boys.

A while later Ponder’s foster children were reunited with their mother and his three mentees were placed in his home due to issues with their previous foster home.

“When I spoke to the social worker and she said there was no resource family and could I hold them for a week, I was so attached to them I was like let them stay here,” he said.

Coming from a big family, Ponder said he adjusted well to having the boys and said they have also adjusted. The biggest change for him is juggling work, school and extracurricular activities, which he said has become a challenge but one he enjoys.

On the importance of National Adoption Day, Ponder said he was initially amazed at how many children are ready and waiting to be adopted.

“I’ve heard some nightmare stories about fostering but I haven’t encountered that,” said Ponder. “I just think word needs to get out that kids are out there. If I can become an adoptive parent, it could happen for anyone.”