WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., honored Rodney Mast for being a recipient of the 2024 “Angels in Adoption” award for his commitment to helping orphans and refugees find families. Senator Wicker nominated Rodney for the award.

“Rodney Mast’s dedication to helping these children is remarkable and is a testament to his character as a human being. He understands how important it is to give every child a home with a loving family. I also commend him for adopting children himself. He was the perfect candidate for this award,” Senator Wicker said.

Rodney is a Mississippi native. He has spent the past 26 years as a farmer in Columbus, Mississippi. In 2023, he took over as President of Compassion Plus Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides charitable assistance, finances, and practical aid for humanitarian needs to improve the current conditions and future of the poor, distressed, or underprivileged. Rodney traveled to Poland with the International Host Connection, a volunteer organization, working with Ukrainian orphans who were displaced because of the war. He and his wife eventually adopted three young orphans from Ukraine (who are brothers).

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which sponsors the “Angels in Adoption” program, is a nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness about the needs of children without families and to remove policy barriers that hinder children from knowing the love and support a family provides.