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“The 8th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Rod Stewart” will be broadcast tonight at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on CBS.
This year’s special continues to tell pre-taped stories about adoption to raise awareness of the more than 119,000 children in the United States foster care system who are waiting for adoptive families.
Their stories are framed by musical performances from Rod Stewart, Five for Fighting, John Legend, Katharine McPhee and Mary Mary.
Comedian Cedric the Entertainer (”Charlotte’s Web”), Miley Cyrus (”Hannah Montana”), Angie Harmon (”Law & Order”), Melina Kanakaredes (”CSI: NY”), Rene Russo (”The Thomas Crown Affair”) and Jeri Ryan (”Shark”) present inspirational stories about adoption.
The segments about adoption include:
The Arguilez Family (San Diego) — Nine-year-old Ricky and his six-year-old sister Isabella had lived in five different foster homes by the time they appeared on THE 7TH ANNUAL A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS in 2005.
“We had been waiting a long time… I worried we might get separated,” said Ricky.
But the siblings’ long wait was finally over when Richard and Gloria Arguilez saw them on the special last year and immediately moved forward to adopt them.
The White Family (Texarkana, Texas) — Victor and Dawn White adopted their first daughter, Jimisha, in 2004.
“I don’t think I started living until I met my parents,” said Jimisha.
With the success of their first adoption, the Whites turned to the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program to find their second daughter, Myricle.
“I knew I had met people that really loved me,” said Myricle. This holiday season, the Whites chose to complete their family by adopting their third daughter, two-year-old Jalaia.
The Mills Family (Los Angeles) — In 1996, Erin Mills became a mentor to Krystine, a nine-year-old girl who came from a troubled home. Over the next several years, as Krystine’s home life deteriorated, her relationship with Erin strengthened. When Krystine was finally placed in foster care as a teenager, Erin received permission to adopt the little girl she loved.
“Before, I didn’t feel worthwhile,” said 19-year-old Krystine. “With my mom, Erin, I know I am worth something, even worth saving.”
Children Waiting — There are over one half million children currently in foster care in the United States. This segment gives voice to these numbers by creating an intimate portrait of children who need permanent, loving homes.
Musical performances include:
Rod Stewart performs “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “I’ll Stand By You” and “It’s A Heartache.”
Five for Fighting singer and songwriter John Ondrasik performs his hit song “The Riddle.”
John Legend performs “Save Room.”
American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Gospel duo Mary Mary perform the holiday favorite, “‘Tis the Season.”
