Alicia Howell was born in Dallas on April 9, 1967. She was just three days old when she left the hospital for her forever home with Drs. Don and Joyce Ellis through adoption with Buckner. 

She celebrated her arrival to her family in school and always told others she was "specially selected." This confident air surrounded Alicia then as it does now.

"My parents wanted to make sure I knew I was a gift from God to them, that I wasn't an accident and that they were praying for me to arrive," she shared.

These spoken truths empowered Alicia to live a childhood full of self-assurance. But as she says, for adopted children, there's always a curiousity about where they came from and why they were placed for adoption.

While Alicia was adopted through Buckner more than 50 years ago, the thread between her and Buckner remains – and continues to strengthen. From the opportunity to manage the financial audit of Buckner International in 2001 as an accountant to becoming a member of Buckner event committees, Alicia has a deep affection for continuing her relationship with Buckner.

In January, she will join the Buckner Board of Trustees. 

"I feel like this is a full circle moment. I'm grateful every day God has brought me to this point, and I'm excited about what's going to happen next as I follow God's calling in my next chapter," she shared.

Read Alicia's story in Buckner Today now.