As Hollywood photographer Courtney Ortiz watched an 11-year-old foster child legally become the daughter of parents she desperately craved last summer, she felt an onslaught of emotions. She felt elated that Kassandra found a loving home, felt moved as she watched Tim and Heather Scott finally become the parents they always wanted to be, and felt humbled that a photograph she had taken of the girl led her to her “forever family.”
Ortiz, along with 50 other local photographers, volunteers for the Heart Gallery, a traveling photography exhibit of foster children who are waiting for permanent adoption. The 501(c)(3) organization tells the story of these children, whose birth parents had their parental rights terminated by the courts, by sharing their photographs, as well as bio cards that describes each child’s interests and personality, with the public. The Heart Gallery travels to a different location every month, ranging from malls and chapels to city halls and hospitals, and in January, the Heart Gallery found a temporary home at Memorial Regional Hospital.
“The Heart Gallery creates awareness,” said Barbara Schechter, the executive director of the Heart Gallery of Broward County. “We are not only trying to find these children homes, but we are also trying to raise awareness (about the foster care system).”
Volunteer photographers take turns photographing the children for the exhibit, with group photo shoots taking place twice a year, and Schechter said the Heart Gallery invites the photographer who took the photograph of a child who finds a permanent home to the adoption ceremony, which is how Ortiz witnessed one of her most “amazing experiences ever.”
“As a parent, I know the happiness that parenthood brings and watching Tim and Heather get a family of their own made me feel a strong connection with them,” said Ortiz, a mother of two who began volunteering with the Heart Gallery in January 2008. “It was my photograph that brought Kassandra to them.”
Ortiz recalled how Kassandra had wondered when she would find her forever family during her photo shoot, and Heather Scott said the vibrancy of Ortiz’s photo of Kassandra really captured her personality and attracted the couple to the child. Ortiz had answered Kassandra’s question through one picture.
“I think this is an amazing opportunity for photographers to give back,” Ortiz said. “It’s a great way for us to use our art for something good. It is an honor to be able to participate in this with a lot of other well-known and well-respected local photographers, and it’s really something that I look forward to.”
Started in 2006 in Santa Fe, the Heart Gallery has grown to include more than 120 locations across the country. The Heart Gallery of Broward County works with local agencies like ChildNet – a nonprofit organization created to manage the child welfare system in Broward County – to match them with prospective adoptive parents. Since its inception four years ago, Schechter said the agency has finalized 60 adoptions and 25 foster children are currently matched, meaning the organization is no longer recruiting a family for them and is waiting for the finalization of the adoption process. She said around 75 children still need a home.
“Everyone can do something to help a foster child,” Schechter said, adding that she is grateful for the many people who have already contributed their talents and services, especially the photographers. “Photographers are the backbone of the Heart Gallery. They are wonderful.”
For more information, visit www.heartgalleryofbroward.org.
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