Jen Lilley Shares Love for Adoption, Appears at Childhelp Charity Event
By Movieguide® Contributor
Hallmark Star Jen Lilley recently shared her heart for foster care and adoption, appearing at a Childhelp charity event.
“You might not know that I have a huge heart for helping children and an equally critical view of charities,” Lilley posted on Instagram. “So many charities aren’t really doing the work or putting the dollars where they belong. So it’s with utmost honor and delight that I, and so many wonderful people, came together last night to support @childhelp.”
“This incredible charity has been around for over 60 years, has rescued over 12 MILLION children right here in the US, and they’ve been nominated for at least 9 Nobel Peace Prizes. They’re the real deal,” she continued.
“Loved coming together to raise some money and some buzz for these precious kiddos last night,” she added.
Lilley has been providing foster care since a young age. Her parents were “unofficial foster parents,” opening their home to those in need.
After garnering fame from DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Lilley used her platform to advocate for children’s’ rights, becoming a celebrity ambassador for Childhelp, ECPAT, and The Dave Thomas Foundation.
In addition to two biological daughters, Lilley and her husband Wayne have adopted two sons, Kayden and Jeffery. Lilley had previously stated that she left DAYS OF OUR LIVES so that she could focus on becoming a foster parent.
“The main driving factor [to transition from soap operas to Hallmark] at that exact moment for me was that I really wanted to become a foster parent,” she said in 2019. “I think that if you want to take care of children in a really dedicated manner, especially children who are in foster care who really need a lot of consistency, then I would not have been able to successfully do the show at the same time… Something had to give. It was either I was going to do a good job on the soap and maybe not give these children the love that they deserve or I was going to be a fantastic foster mom, and just flounder in my acting.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Lilley:
Former Movieguide® Awards Gala host Jen Lilley and her husband Jason Wanye recently talked with PEOPLE Magazine about their experience with the foster care system after adopting their first two children, Kayden, 5, and Jefferey, 3, in celebration of National Adoption Month.
The couple also shares Julie, 2, with another baby expected in 2022.
“When I was fostering my son Kayden, I was so burdened for all of the children in the extremely broken foster system, that I would often ask his amazing social worker how many children is someone legally allowed to adopt? And he would laugh, knowing my heart, and say, ‘I’ve got bad news for you Jen, it’s not 100.’ The truth is, I don’t think any parent, regardless of his or her heart and capacity to love could ever give enough attention and affection to 100 children in one home, but I know by advocating for foster care and adoption, I could probably die knowing at least 100 children were given safe, loving, and possibly forever homes,” Lilley wrote on her Instagram. “I also know without ears to hear or hearts willing to receive, I can advocate til I’m red in the face, but it wouldn’t help the children.
“So when a publication as popular and noteworthy as @People Magazine shares your heart to spread the word about adoption in honor of National Adoption Month, let me tell you, it’s humbling and moving in ways I can’t express,” she added. “Thank you to People staff writer, Kara Warner, for your beautiful heart for children, and for inviting Jason and I to be part of this incredible series you’re doing on adoption this November. This article brought me to tears in the best kind of way.”
- Content: +2Share:
- Content: +4