WHO: Family Services of Metro Orlando, the lead contracted agency for adoptive and foster care services through the Florida Department of Children and Families in Orange and Osceola counties
WHAT: In preparation for the upcoming September 15 launch of the 2011 Heart Gallery, children featured in the gallery exhibit will have an opportunity to see their professional portraits for the first time before the official unveiling. Children featured in the Heart Gallery are children in the local foster care system who are available for adoption. In Orange and Osceola counties there are currently 200 children available for adoption. For many youth, it is their first professional portrait.
The Heart Gallery gives prospective adoptive parents a glimpse at children who are in foster care, from a different perspective. “Children in foster care are beautiful; they are just like children who live at home with their moms and dads. We want prospective parents to see them in that light, with the potential to bring a child into their own family. While some children live at home with their parents, our kids just want someone to be able to call mom or dad,” says Greg Kurth, Chief Executive Officer for Family Services of Metro Orlando.
WHEN: September 13 from 3-5 p.m.
WHERE: Orlando Magic Experience Center
101 South Garland Ave.
Orlando, Florida 32801
WHY: Since 2006, the Heart Gallery has featured beautiful portraits of more than 100 Central Florida children awaiting adoption. Of those, more than 46 percent of featured children have found adoptive homes. The September 15 launch of the new 2011 Heart Gallery is inspired by children, designed by the International Academy of Design and Technology, and furnished by IKEA. Professional portraiture of the 74 children featured was provided by members of the Professional Photographers Society of Central Florida.
Wonderful to see these sweet children being displayed with beautiful photography!