The National Heart Gallery
|
|
Sponsored by: The Adoption Exchange Association, the Collaboration
to AdoptUsKids, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
The Advertising Council.
In partnership with: The Freddie Mac Foundation, The Congressional
Coalition on Adoption , The National Adoption Day Coalition
|
|
Took place on November 1, 2005
The first National Heart Gallery exhibit opened in Washington,
DC.
|
The Heart Gallery™ was founded by the New
Mexico Children,Department (CYFD) in 2001 as an innovative way
to help waiting children connect with adoptive families. CYFD
Adoption Event Specialist Diane Granito, working from a suggestion
by photographer and adoptive mother Cathy Maier Callanan, named
and organized the initial project, including locating photographers,
venues and sponsors. The event drew media attention and resulted
in the adoption of many of the featured children. Since that time,
thanks to extensive national media coverage and the hard work
of adoption advocates across the country, local Heart Gallery
exhibits have been established in over 40 states as both public
awareness and family recruitment events. The inspirational portraits,
which are taken by talented photographers working at no cost to
the agencies, capture the individuality of each child and have
helped hundreds of children find permanent families.
On November 1, 2005 the first National Heart Gallery exhibit opened
in Washington, DC. Sponsored by The Adoption Exchange Association
and The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids, DHHS and the Ad Council, with
the support of several national adoption partners, the National
Heart Gallery featured the portraits of waiting children from across
the country. The portraits were on display in Union Station’s
West Hall and The Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda. This special
exhibit helped raise awareness of the 119,000 children currently
waiting for a home in the U.S. The national response to this event
was tremendous.
View photos from the opening event of the National Heart Gallery
below:.
back to top
|
