North Texas adoption draws more than 300 people

Nike Garza is an eight-year-old child who has been in foster care with Buckner Foster Care and Adoption since Oct. 25, 2015 (half his life), but on Feb. 17, 2020, he was officially adopted by his forever family.

A crowd of more than 300 people filled up a tiny courtroom at the Collin County Courthouse to provide witness to Nike's big day. They included his forever parents, David and Kristi Schwartz, and his forever siblings. Nike was also surrounded by his new family and friends, as well as his 2nd grade class, school staff and teachers, church members, his parents’ co-workers, the PSHS Planoettes (his sister’s high school drill team), Buckner Foster Care and Adoption staff, and CPS staff.

Even Nike’s favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, heard about his adoption and wanted to help him celebrate. They sent a football signed by his favorite player, Dak, and the entire 2019 team, plus additional swag and Cowboys apparel.

The big day was captured by a video on Buckner International's Twitter and Facebook pages.

Last year, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reported there were 442,995 children in foster care in the U.S., and 34,161 of those kids were in Texas. Of those kids, 1,750 were waiting to be adopted in the DFW-area.

There is a great need for foster families and adoptive families, which is why nonprofit Buckner International hosts free informational meetings about foster care and adoption every month across Texas. To learn about informational meetings in your area, visit https://www.buckner.org/foster-care-adoption/events.