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Is there a place in your Heart ... Is there a place in your Home?

What is Heart Gallery Philadelphia?            Every child deserves a family. In Philadelphia, there are hundreds of foster children who are longing for just that. Heart Gallery Philadelphia is collaborating with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services to bring these children closer to that dream. To achieve that goal, Professional Photographers volunteer their time and skill to create beautiful, compelling portraits of foster children in Philadelphia, which become a traveling exhibit. The goal is to raise adoption awareness, but more importantly to give voice to the many foster children in our community looking for their “forever family”. Ultimately, our hope is that through these portraits prospective parents will be moved to adopt. These children are considered harder to adopt,  ranging in age from 5 to 17, minorities and/or in sibling groups. They are deserving of our attention, our compassion, our help, and our respect.   Heart Gallery Philadelphia is at The Please Touch Museum only through February 29th, 2012 ... The Children are waiting ... New kids looking for their forever family Why not make 2012 the year that you become a "Forever Family" to one of these deserving children? Justin Photographer, David DeBalko With a smile a mile wide, this adorable seven-year-old is a real delight. Born 6.9.2004, Justin is an active kid who loves sports, and is particularly good at basketball. In school, his favorite subject is math, followed by gym because of all the sports he gets to play. Other favorites include pizza, learning about the solar system, being tickled and playing on the computer. What does he like about himself? Justin’s proud that he’s well-behaved, that he reads well and that he’s nice to others – all good traits if you want to be a policeman when you grow up. Given three wishes Justin wants a gameboy and a computer but most of all, a forever family. If you would like to open your heart and home to this Justin, please contact Luis Santiago at 215.683.6301. Detrick Photographer, David DeBalko   Born November 16, 2001, this bright 10 year old has so much talent.  Detrick’s favorite subjects in school include math, science and reading but he excels in all areas of learning and continually makes the honor roll.  His absolute favorite things to do are skateboarding and art….depending on his mood and he is good at both. In fact, being helpful and creative are two things that Detrick likes best about himself.  He describes himself as good at drawing and an area he would like to improve is swimming.  Detrick’s dream for the future is to attend Drexel University where he would like to graduate and become a paleontologist.  If granted three wishes, Detrick knows just what he wants…to have lots of toys, be a famous artist and to visit a beach.  It goes without saying that a loving home will help this beautiful boy meet his strong potential.  If you have a completed home study and would like to open your heart and home to Detrick, please contact Luis Santiago at 215.683.6301.   Nadir Photographer, Dan Naylor   Born April 4th 1999, this handsome guy is also extraordinarily bright. He’s not only a good student (with a preference for math); he’s insightful—about himself as well as the world. When not in school, he spends his time involved with sports; boxing and basketball are his very favorites. Nadir is proud of his athletic ability (and his good looks) and hopes that one day he can be a pro, a boxer or basketball player, either one would suit him fine. Nadir dreams of a good life and says he’d like to be even smarter than he is.  If you have a completed home study and  would like to open your heart and home to Nadir, please contact Luis Santiago at 215.683.6301.   Jahnai Born 11.6.2002, is a likeable young man with a big, bright smile and a personality to match. At eight years old, he is a pro at video games, his very favorite pastime. Although not nearly as much fun, his preferred subject in school is math. Jahnai exudes confidence and feels good about himself for his ability to solve puzzles, for his artistic talent (he draws very well) and for being active and good at sports. Of the people he admires, he cites his DHS worker because she is kind and easy to talk to. For the future, apart from being a super hero with the power to teleport, Jahnai would like to do any kind of work that helps children. And if he had a couple of wishes, he’d ask to be the best kid on earth and, of course, be a part of a happy, forever family. If you would like to open your heart and home to this child, please contact Luis Santiago at 215.683.6301. Photographer, Karen Carey Thomas Born April 29, 1995, this is one beautiful boy – both inside and out. Wise beyond his years, 16-year-old Thomas is a warm and engaging kid with a keen sense of responsibility and a real concern for others. In school, he’s partial to math, reading and sports, but in his free time, like most teens, he loves playing video games, talking to girls, and connecting on Facebook. When asked what he’s good at, Thomas responds without hesitation, "Singing, caring for children and earning (and saving) money." His dream for the future is to be a lawyer or a preacher, someone who helps young people get through tough times. Even now, he is a role model for his peers, committed to his faith, to working hard, to fulfilling his potential and to making the world a better place. Thomas is looking for a wonderful forever family who will "love him for who he is". If you would like to open your heart and home to Thomas, please contact Luis Santiago at 215.683.6301. Photographer, Stacey Crescitelli

Click Here for our 2011 Gallery of Kids waiting for their Forever Families

Site Last Updated:02/02/2012 12:29:23 PM

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