Families don’t have to look the same or even share genes when they are brought together by love.
Meet Magnolia Earl, an adorable little girl who turned 1 and celebrated her adoption anniversary on May 9. She also just made history as the first-ever adopted Gerber baby!
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Courtney and Russell Earl of Ross, California, welcomed Magnolia into their family the day she was born. They had waited several months for the special moment and couldn’t have been happier! Her new sisters, 12-year-old Whitney and 8-year-old Charlotte, who was also adopted, were just as thrilled.
“Magnolia has brought so much joy to everyone she meets. Her personality is beyond happy and joyful,” Courtney said. “Adoption is incredibly special to our family’s story. Winning Photo Search is an opportunity to tell Magnolia’s story and shed light on all the beautiful and different ways families are made.”
As the 2020 Gerber “spokesbaby,” Magnolia will be featured in the company’s marketing campaigns and on their social media pages. Her family will also receive a $25,000 cash prize, $1,000 for Gerber Childrenswear, $1,000 from Walmart, and phones with a year of free unlimited service from Verizon.
Today
But if you ask the Earls, the real prize is helping everyone redefine a very important concept. “When people see our families, or if you see a family that doesn’t necessarily match, that you don’t have to question the belonging of anybody in that family,” Courtney told the “Today” show.
Russell added, “A family is built on love. We may all look different, but we’re one family.”
Bill Partyka, president and CEO of Gerber, couldn’t agree more. “At a time when we are yearning for connection and unity, Magnolia and her family remind us of the many things that bring us together: our desire to love and be loved, our need to find belonging, and our recognition that family goes way beyond biology.”
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Congratulations, Magnolia! Not only are you absolutely precious, but you’re also an example to millions of what true love is.
Hear more about her adoption in the video below, and share this story to spread the joy.
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