Colorado Heart Gallery Exhibit Returns to Focus on the Family Welcome Center
Local Nonprofit Confirmed as only Colorado Springs Location on State Tour
November 14, 2006
Colorado Springs, Colo. – Beginning November 30th, Focus on the Family will demonstrate its passion for and commitment to America’s foster children by participating in Colorado’s second annual Heart Gallery. The national Heart Gallery exhibit, located at the Focus on the Family Welcome Center, raises adoption awareness by displaying unique professional photos of approximately 50 foster children, representing 7 counties in the state. Last year’s Colorado Heart Gallery had a 30 percent success rate for getting children into their forever homes. Focus on the Family is the only Colorado Springs exhibit on the state tour, and will host the exhibit through February 28th.
The national Heart Gallery began in 2001 in New Mexico as a unique way to feature the personality and individuality of foster children through the use of nontraditional photography while raising adoption awareness within the community. In the past five years, the idea has spread nationwide due to coverage in broadcast and print media such as ABC’s World News Tonight. Each photograph contains information on how to adopt the child or children in the photo.
“The Division of Child Welfare Services was looking for opportunities to raise the awareness of the need to find safe, nurturing families for children waiting to be adopted,” says Dr. Sharen Ford, manager of the permanency unit for the Division of Child Welfare Services. “Focus on the Family is a ‘family focused’ organization that supports the well-being of the family. The Welcome Center at Focus attracts a wide variety of visitors from across the state and the nation. We thought what a wonderful way of promoting our need to find forever families for children. We want everyone to know about children's need for permanency.”
The Focus on the Family Welcome Center is one of the top five attractions in Colorado Springs according to the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau and voted “Best of the Springs 2005” by the Colorado Springs Gazette. The Welcome Center is located on the corner of Briargate Parkway and Explorer Drive. For more information about visiting the Focus on the Family Welcome Center, call 1-800-A-FAMILY or 719-531-3400.
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For more information, contact Deb Baez at (719) 548-5882 or deb.baez@fotf.org.