Suffolk Courts Celebrate National Adoption Day ‘Under the Sea’ at Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – On Friday, November 12, 2025, the Suffolk County Family Court held its annual National Adoption Day ceremony for the third year at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead. Through the generous support of the Suffolk County Bar Association Charity Foundation, the Suffolk Courts were able to once again host this year’s Adoption Day away from the courthouse at an enchanting, seafaring venue that brought an added level of joy to all in attendance. Judges, attorneys, court staff, case workers, and honorary dignitaries all joined together with past and present adoptive families at the Aquarium to celebrate the adoptions of 9 children – most coming from foster care – and to raise awareness of the community’s need for more adoptive parents to come forward.

Supervising Judge of Suffolk County Family Court Hon. Caren Loguercio presided over the affair, which involved an opening press conference followed by a spirited breakfast reception. Notable dignitaries in attendance were County Executive Edward Romaine, County Attorney Christopher Clayton, Esq., Suffolk Courts District Executive Lorie-Ann Bitetti, Commissioner of County Department of Social Services John E. Imhof, Riverhead Town Supervisor Timothy Hubbard, Judges of the Suffolk Family Court bench, and executive members of the Suffolk Bar Association. To open the celebration, children from an honorary family, the Rashtis, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Today, we celebrate the incredible families formed through adoption,” said Supervising Judge Loguercio at the press conference before a crowded room of guests and bubbling fish tanks. “On this day, we send a message about the beauty of adoption, of creating forever families for children who deserve the love, home, and commitment that will serve as the foundation for their hopes and dreams,” she added. County Executive Romaine was likewise honored to share remarks on the special occasion. “Today is a day that we celebrate building families. Thank you to all those who volunteer, those who step up and say ‘Yes,’ who take a child from foster care into their home and change their lives forever. So let’s keep building families, and let’s continue to let the love shine through.”

This year’s keynote speaker was Justin Hebert, who recently adopted his now 13-year-old daughter, Lily.

“My wife and I loved kids and we felt we had the capacity for more, but we were beyond our childbearing years,” Mr. Hebert explained. “Fostering made perfect sense for us, so we got ourselves placed on the emergency call list. One Wednesday afternoon we then got a call: an 8-year-old girl and her 3-year-old half-brother needed a home – we said ‘Yes.’ The kids were homeless and arrived with only the clothes on their backs. My wife immediately left her work and dashed to Target to get clothes, a car seat, a high chair, and we told ourselves we’d figure out the rest later.”

Hebert, with Lily tucked at his side at the podium and the rest of their family behind him, shared their family’s personal challenges and triumphs when welcoming her into their home. Over time, however, their early struggles transformed into a beautiful story of a family building a home grounded in resilience, compassion, and love. He said the most gratifying part of all was whenever he would hear Lily thank him for saving her life or for being her most trusted friend.

“It is a lasting joy that comes from giving yourself away in love,” he said. After Hebert spoke, Lily stepped to the podium to thank everyone in attendance “for helping all the kids out there who need to find a better place.”

Suffolk’s District Administrative Judge Hon. Andrew A. Crecca was unable to attend the event but was sure to share his sentiments.

“I deeply regret missing one of my favorite events of the year. I must thank everyone involved: from the members of the department of social services, to our fantastic attorneys, judges, and court staff, all who work tirelessly to help our children in need, and most of all, I must thank the wonderful families who have opened their hearts and their homes to new loved ones.”

After the press conference, guests moved to the Aquarium’s Sea Star Grand Ballroom for a festive breakfast. The Family Court sat “in session” all morning, where 9 families were separately called into a private room with a judge and clerk to finalize the adoption of their new child. Each proceeding ended with warm hugs, group photos, and a raucous applause from family members and court staff. The celebration involved plenty of fanfare for the kids, including a face-paint station, a children’s book signing table, and surprise guest appearances from Long Island Ducks mascot QuackerJack, therapy dogs from the Suffolk County Police Department, and “Ariel” from Disney’s A Little Mermaid.

Additionally, children in attendance each received specially-embroidered backpacks donated by Jockey as part of its Being Family Foundation. The backpacks were filled with stuffed animals, toys, and other mementos as parting gifts for the kids. Last, and certainly not least, all members of the adoptive families were given special bracelets granting free access to the Aquarium for the rest of the day.

National Adoption Day is a day to celebrate new families and highlight the importance of providing stable, supportive homes for all children in need. The occasion is also meant to raise awareness about thousands of children in foster care who continue to wait for permanent, loving families. In Suffolk County, there are presently more than 700 such children in foster care. This year’s National Adoption Day is Friday, November 21st