The dad who gave 22 kids a home

Russ Sullivan didn't necessarily plan on having a huge family, but 22 kids have called him "Pops," "Papo," "Daddy Russ," "Dad" and more.Over the years, Sullivan has taken on legal guardianship of 22 young people in the D.C. area.Why it matters: The remarkable story of Sullivan and his kids is a reminder that families come in many beautiful forms — and every child deserves one.The big picture: Sullivan's kids — 21 boys and one girl — came into his life by way of mentorship programs and Northern Virginia high school counselors Some had recently lost parents, others had been abandoned, and some struggled with substance abuse or behavioral issues.Almost all were between 15 and 17 years old when Sullivan became their legal guardian. At one point, he had 7 teenagers living under one roof.All 22 went on to college or trade school, and many now have children of their own. His oldest son is 41, and his youngest is a 21-year-old college senior."For the first three or four, I made a lot of mistakes as a parent," says Sullivan, who's a tax attorney and lobbyist at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck."I really don't make many mistakes parenting anymore. By the time I got to number 11, I was really…

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