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Portraits At Philadelphia
International Airport Spotlight Foster Children
Heart
Gallery Hopes To Inspire Families To Adopt Special Kids
Philadelphia -
"Every Child Deserves A Family." That is the underlying theme the Heart
Gallery of Philadelphia wishes to convey in an exhibit featuring professional
photographers' compelling portraits of 14 foster children who are awaiting
adoption in Philadelphia. The exhibit, which is on display in the Philadelphia
International Airport (PHL) B/C Baggage Claim through February 28th, is a
collaborative effort between the Heart Gallery of Philadelphia and the City's
Department of Human Services.
"There are hundreds of foster children
in Philadelphia who wake up every day hoping that this will be the day a loving
family will adopt them," said Mayor John F. Street. "Like every child, they
want the love, security and emotional nourishment of a stable home life. This
exhibit gives a face and a voice to these children."
The Heart Gallery
of Philadelphia exhibit consists of striking portraits of children ranging in
age from 5 to 17. Created to increase adoption awareness and inspire families
to open their homes to children longing to be part of a permanent family
environment, the portraits are accompanied by short biographies that include
each child's interests, hobbies, personality traits, favorite subjects, and
special characteristics.
"We share in the hopes of the Heart Gallery,
the Department of Human Services and the children that loving families will be
moved to adopt a foster child," said Charles J. Isdell, the City's Director of
Aviation.
The Heart Gallery of Philadelphia is affiliated with the
Heart Gallery, which was founded in 2001 by the New Mexico Children, Youth and
Families Department as a way to give exposure to children in foster care who
are waiting to be adopted. The first National Heart Gallery exhibit opened on
November 1st in Washington D.C. in Union Station's West Hall and The Russell
Senate Office Building Rotunda.
The Airport exhibit is the Heart
Gallery's first in Philadelphia. In January, the second exhibition will be on
view at the Please Touch Museum. The Heart Gallery of Philadelphia is seeking
additional venues to host its exhibit as well as volunteers. More information
is available by visiting the organization's Web site at
http://www.heartgalleryphilly.org.
For information
contact:
Mark Pesce
(215) 937-6944
The Philadelphia Airport System is owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia and is composed of Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The Airport System is a self-sustaining entity that operates without the use of local tax dollars. It is one of the largest economic engines in Pennsylvania, generating an estimated $14 billion in spending to the regional economy and employing a workforce of nearly 34,000.
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