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Pasadena-Based Website Honors Two Adoptees Who Help Others Find Missing Relatives

Published on Sunday, April 13, 2014 | 8:57 pm
 

“Search angels” Patricia Ann Neal (left) and Laura Ann Brandl-Witherspoon

Pasadena-based Spokeo website honored two adoptees who, amid their search for their own roots, helped thousands of foster individuals connect with their missing families and relatives.

Patricia Ann Neal and Laura Ann Brandl-Witherspoon were given this year’s Spokeo Search Angel Awards during the 35th Annual American Adoption Congress in San Francisco last Friday.

The “search angels” were recognized for giving their time and resources in helping individuals reconnect with their missing loved ones through Spokeo, a people search engine that organizes White Pages listings, public records and social network information.

“We hear amazing stories about how volunteers dedicate their own time, effort and resources. The Spokeo Search Angels program is just a small token of our appreciation for the hard work that these individuals do,” said the website’s CEO Ray Chen. “It is the perfect fit to put Spokeo’s technology to such great practical use and we want to honor these individuals for the thousands of connections they have made.

Neal, an adoptee from Houston, Texas, has been searching for her own biological family. She became an advocate of adoptee rights for the past four years, and has worked with several adoption groups and adoptees in searching for missing family members.

Brandl-Witherspoon, meanwhile, began to take on the search for her real family after having a failed reunion attempt through the state of Wisconsin, and not being able to afford other services. She was able to find and reunite with her family through the Social Security Index. She has also helped thousands of families connect with missing their loved ones over the past 14 years.

The honorees received a cash grant from the Spokeo Search Angel fund, hosted by the Mixed Roots Foundation, to help offset the personal costs they incur while searching; a one-year membership for Spokeo search tools; and the opportunity for families who are matched by the angels to elect to participate in a reunion sponsorship covering their travel costs.

Spokeo and the members of the Spokeo Search Angels Advisory Committee selected the two winners out of more than 20 nominations based on their dedication to help others.

The awards program was created in the fall of 2012 by the Mixed Roots Foundation and an advisory committee made up of leaders from the adoption community, to honor, recognize and support the work of search volunteers.

“We look forward to growing this program and continuing to honor outstanding individuals who are using Spokeo’s technology in ways that truly make a difference,” Chen said.

Anyone can try to connect with their friends and family members by searching a name, address, email, phone or username at Spokeo’s website, http://www.spokeo.com.

Spokeo’s office is located at 556 S. Fair Oaks Ave. For more information on the Spokeo Search Angels program, visit http://www.spokeoangels.com/angels.

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