Courtrooms are very normally serious and formal places, but for five-year-old, Danielle Koning, the courtroom transformed into a Disney land. Everybody left their formal suits and stern expressions behind, and dressed up as Disney characters, to make it the best day in the little girl’s life.
The little girl, hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was attending her last court hearing for adoption- along with her foster parents, Sarah and Jim Koning, with whom she has been living since 2014.
Her foster care worker came up with the novel idea to dress everyone in Disney character attire. So Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Elsa, and Ariel were in attendance to support Danielle. Even the honorable Judge Patricia Gardner got into the act, wearing a Snow White dress under her robe.
“It was a special occasion that really snowballed from a request made by Danielle’s caseworker, who knew Danielle loved Cinderella so much,” Laura Mitchell, executive director for Samaritas Foster Care Program and Child and Family services, told ABC News. “One of other caseworkers kind of looks like Cinderella, so she said, ‘Would you mind going to the hearing and dressing as Cinderella?”
The idea that originated as a meeting, sparked more interest and participation from other employees who heard about the idea.
“I think it’s really important to make that adoption day special for every kid, in whatever capacity you can,” said Sarah. “No matter what, if kids have been bounced around a lot, it really helps them to feel the permanency and know that they’re not going anywhere now. It’s really important for kids to feel that security.”
“It’s obviously a very meaningful day, a joyous occasion,” Laura added. “The hearing is definitely a celebration that the kids now have forever families. And it shows the love and compassion that our caseworkers have.”
Watch the courtroom turned into Disney Land here:
