Groundbreaking Heart Gallery Phenomenon Spreads from Coast to Coast with 120 Exhibitions Nationwide of Foster Children Available for Adoption

PR Newswire

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Museum-Quality Exhibit of Images Taken by World-Renowned Photographers Inaugurates Its Second Year in Miami

MIAMI, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Conceived 8 years ago by a New Mexico photographer and adoptive mom ( http://www.heartgalleryofamerica.org ), The Heart Gallery concept took off and has been duplicated 119 times since across the country. Depending on the city, Heart Galleries are funded and operated by a variety of entities, ranging from local divisions of state welfare agencies to not for profits, churches and special taxing-districts.

Heart Galleries vary in quality and style, but they all have one thing in common. They are all inspiring photo exhibits of children in foster-care available for adoption and they are all fueled by an army of volunteers -- particularly legions of professional photographers who dedicate their time and talent to help children find permanent and loving homes.

In Miami, the Heart Gallery was spearheaded by The Children's Trust, a special taxing-district and dedicated funding source for programs and services benefiting children and families. The Children's Trust will re-launch its museum-quality exhibit on June 12 in the City's historic and iconic Freedom Tower, where it will remain through July 12 before touring the community.

Many of Miami's participating photographers are award-winning professionals who have received top honors for their art or are known for their celebrity status, such as America's Next Top Model fame, Nigel Barker or Matthew Jordan Smith, who has photographed such superstars as Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey and Aretha Franklin. Some have worked for top publications such as: In Style, Vogue, The New York Times, Self, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Associated Press, Mademoiselle , Sports Illustrated, and Cosmopolitan, just to name a few.

According to the state of Florida, more than 1,500 foster children are eligible for adoption in Florida and approximately 150 of them live in Miami-Dade. These children have been removed from their biological parents for reasons of neglect or abuse with no possibility of family reunification. Multiply this by every state and you have tens of thousands of children in state custody available for adoption nationwide. Many languish in foster care for years and run the risk of aging out of the system without family to call their own -- resulting in high rates of drug abuse, teen pregnancy, prostitution and homelessness.

The Children's Trust Miami Heart Gallery includes a cell-phone-accessible audio component and is complemented by a comprehensive web site, www.miamiheartgallery.org , which highlights the children's portraits; videos of each child with information about their hobbies, goals and dreams; as well as a video about the making of the exhibit. Photos of the new children being featured will be posted on the Web site in conjunction with the re-launch of the exhibit but their portraits are currently available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38618878@N02/sets/72157619066410983

This groundbreaking work in Miami seeks adoptive parents this year for 58 children, but these children serve as ambassadors for all the others in the child welfare system who long for a forever family.

The Children's Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County .

SOURCE The Children's Trust

2009-06-09 14:51:00