China & the Huntsmans

Adoption of US Ambassador to China

Shines in National Spotlight

On August 21, 2009 the newly-appointed and ninth US Ambassador to China, former Utah
Governor Mr. Jon Huntsman arrived in China with his family. Three days later he hosted his
first news conference as US Ambassador to introduce himself and his family. One of faces
introduced to the crowd was his ten-year-old daughter Gracie Mae, whom Jon and his wife
Mary Kay adopted from China in December 1999.
Since that first introduction, Gracie Mae has accompanied her US Ambassador dad and appeared
at many important functions and events. One of the most recent widely publicized
events was a family trip back to her orphanage – Yangzhou Social Welfare Institute in JiangSu.
Due to the unusual circumstances regarding her father’s position and the reintroduction to the
country of her birth, Gracie Mae has become an instant sensation and celebrity in China. All
major Chinese official and non-official media organizations have followed her closely and have
repeatedly reported her story to the entire nation. There has never been such a level of curiosity
and positive reaction towards an adopted Chinese child since 1992 when China first opened
its door to international adoption.
With the exception of former premier Zhu Rongji, who visited Denver in April 1999, almost no
Chinese top leader since 1992 has ever seen a US family adopted Chinese child in person. Although
most Chinese have heard about international adoption and some have even seen American
families holding a Chinese baby in China, very few know exactly what becomes of these
adopted children once they travel to their new “home” outside of China.
China adoption has never lacked celebrity adoptive parents from the USA, but none has
achieved the level of attention the Huntsmans have generated. For the first time, a country of
1.3 billion people, as well as its leaders, have the chance to read about and watch on TV an
adopted child’s adoption story, her beautiful family, and her wonderful and happy life in America.
All of China has been captivated and fascinated by this lovely girl who was abandoned in a
Farmers’ Market at an estimated age of two months and is now a daughter of the most famous
US family in China.
The Gracie Mae Story is sending a clear message to all
Chinese who are unsure about international adoption
and to the adopted children’s birth parents whom the
children most likely would never be able to know or
find out: adoption is truly for the best well-being of all
“abandoned” children. These adopted children are
very much loved by their adopted parents and doing
well in a country that they now call their own. Just like
her father is literally, Gracie Mae—and all adopted children
from China—are ambassadors of love and friendship
between the USA and China and will remain so
for many years and generations to come.

**I am hoping that having the Huntsman family in China will help us with our adoption process and bring a positive light to having Americans adopt Chinese Children. I just wanted to share this article with you because I believe things happen for a reason and I think Mr. Huntsman is supposed to be in China at this time.