Buckner President and CEO Albert Reyes traveled to Washington D.C. this week to attend the 66th Annual National Prayer Breakfast hosted by the U.S. Congress, with President Donald Trump and other national leaders of government. 

He also met with members of Congress, including Rep. Kevin Brady and Rep. Will Hurd (pictured above with Buckner Director of Government Relations Sarah Klotz as well as Buckner supporters Robert and Deanya Cocanaugher and Martha Lu Knapton), who are passionate about the welfare of children and families in the United States as well as Central and South America. 

These kinds of relationships led Buckner to apply for and be awarded a $1 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development to transition 100 children from state-run orphanages into loving families in Guatemala. We were able to match more than 150 children with families because of this effort.

And this morning, Congress passed the Family First Act, which opens up more funds for family strengthening and preservation efforts, including foster care programs.