Hudson couple who adopted two brothers receive award

They and other Angels in Adoption will be honored at a gala in Washington in October.

By CARRIE RITCHIE, Times Staff Writer
Published August 11, 2007

Dan and Luanne Hurst of Hudson adopted their first child, a son named Matthew, just after he was born in 1994. Eleven months later, they received a call from their attorney saying Matthew's mother was about to have a second son and wanted them to take him.

They were thrilled.

"We got the call and were like, 'Okay!' " Luanne Hurst said. "It was not a hard decision."

They never thought their willingness to adopt a second child would lead to national recognition.

But this month, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, selected the Hursts as her district's 2007 Angels in Adoption. The award is given to people who have made a difference in the lives of foster children and orphans, according to the Web site for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which established the program in 1999.

Since 2003, Brown-Waite has annually reviewed nominations from local agencies and individuals - she usually gets three to seven - and she personally chooses a winner, said Charlie Keller, Brown-Waite's communications director.

The Hursts stood out because they committed to adopting a second child so that the brothers could grow up together.

The couple, both English professors at Clearwater Christian College, homeschool their children and have planned special programs for Matthew, who's dyslexic. In 1998, they moved from Greenville, S.C., to New Port Richey, and they later moved to a 5-acre property in Hudson so that the boys could have more space.

Now Matthew, 13, and Jesse, 12, enjoy karate, swimming, canoeing and playing with friends. And both are earning A's in their lessons, Luanne Hurst said.

"Dan and Luanne have opened their hearts and their home to two wonderful boys," Brown-Waite said in a statement. "One of the toughest challenges adoption agencies face is keeping siblings together throughout the adoption process."

The Hursts were in "complete shock" when they heard the news, said Luanne Hurst, 53.

Ken Woodard, their pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Dade City, nominated them but didn't tell them. Luanne Hurst said the only clue they had was an e-mail he sent saying they might get an interesting call.

Brown-Waite called them last week to tell them about the award and that they had won.

The Hursts will be honored with other recipients at a gala Oct. 4 in Washington, D.C., and they plan to attend. They're taking their sons to see the sites, so it will be an educational trip.

All members of Congress have the opportunity to bestow the award upon their constituents. Last year about 190 participated.

Now that the Hursts know about the program, they're interested in nominating some of the friends they've met through their adoption experiences, Luanne Hurst said.

"We got this call and said we can think of people who seemed to be much more worthy of this award than we do," she said. "We just feel like we're a regular family."

[Last modified August 10, 2007, 21:26:50]