RACE ON TO GET LAST 7 STATES TO PROCLAIM NATIONAL STEPFAMILY DAY September 16 National Stepfamily Picnic to be Held September 18

With less than 60 days to go, Stepfamily Association of America's (SAA) Stepfamily Day founder, Christy Borgeld is just seven governors away from the entire country recognizing National Stepfamily Day on September 16.

(PRWEB) July 24, 2004 -- With less than 60 days to go, Stepfamily Association of America's (SAA) Stepfamily Day founder, Christy Borgeld is just seven governors away from the entire country recognizing National Stepfamily Day on September 16.

"With years of hard work, we believe 2004 is when all states will assert the impact and contribution of stepfamilies," says the organization's president Dr. Margorie Engel. "Citations and proclamations are pouring in from all levels of government; we've even heard from a presidential nominee."

Engel attributes the growing support for a national day, in part, to the fact that at least 20 percent of legislators in Congress are part of a stepfamily.

A stepfamily working together on the campaign trail, John Kerry, stepdad to Teresa Heinz Kerry's 3 sons' and she is a stepmom to his 2 daughters. Kerry said in his letter: "I would like to take this time to commemorate the eighth annual Stepfamily Day organized by the Stepfamily Association of America.

Over 90 million Americans are part of a stepfamily in the U.S. today. National Stepfamily Family Day gives these families an opportunity to celebrate and help all Americans appreciate the valuable contributions that all families have made to our society."

The states that have yet to proclaim National Stepfamily Day since 1997 are: 1)Kentucky; 2)Montana; 3)Nevada; 4)North Carolina; 5)North Dakota; 6)Vermont; 7)Wyoming.

This delayed response does not daunt the founder and driving force behind Stepfamily Day (SFD) and its National Stepfamily Day Picnic. Christy Borgeld, a Michigan stepmother, mother and SAA board member Chair of Membership Services says: "My dream is for all stepfamilies to take pride in their contribution to the American family. Thousands of us celebrate in parks and backyards across the country each year and this year will be no different."

The National Stepfamily Picnic is usually held the Saturday after SFD (September 18). For more information, contact Borgeld at: Bbunch71@aol.com or the Stepfamily Day website:
http://pages.ivillage.com/christyb37/happystepfamilydayseptember162004/

Stepfamily Facts
- Stepfamilies take time to work --research shows it takes an average of four years

- Because there is no comprehensive legal definition of stepfamily, rules vary widely from state to state. This leads to unnecessary confusion.

- Stepparents serve as parents in all meaningful ways for a large percentage of American families. They provide economic and emotional support, perform child-raising tasks at home, and serve a parental role in the child's world outside the home.

- Legal, financial and social supports are needed to enable stepparents to parent effectively and to enable children to thrive. For example, if a stepchild requires emergency care, stepparents are not authorized to grant medical care.

The Stepfamily Association of America is the only national research-based, charitable organization dedicated to improving life for stepfamilies around the world. Stepfamilies are complicated. Join the Stepfamily Association of America to get the help you need. For more information, see http://www.saafamilies.org/.

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Christy Borgeld (Founder Stepfamily Day) 616-534-3047
Dr. Margorie Engel (President SAA) 617-720-1793