Children's Trust

Heart Gallery Exhibit Goes Up At Miami's Airport

MIAMI (CBS4) ― A special photo gallery is on display right now depicting some South Florida children who need your help. Portraits of children looking for loving parents currently greet travelers passing through Miami International Airport.

The Children's Trust Miami Heart Gallery is a groundbreaking project that seeks adoptive parents for 48 children through portraits taken by 30 of the world's top photographers whose works have been featured in magazines including In Style, Vogue, Mademoiselle, Self, Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, Ocean Drive and Marie Claire.

Noted photographer Nigel Barker flew in from New York to photograph several of the children. Barker is best known to TV audiences as one of the judges and celebrity photographers for the hit show Americas Next Top Model hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks.

Based on a national model of other Heart Galleries across the U.S., the Children's Trust Miami Heart Gallery captures the unique personality of each child through portraits taken at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Jungle Island.

Toni wants to sing and dance. Shawmen and Shawlen want to be doctors. Marc likes to meet new people. Leonay likes to take vacations. These are descriptions of some of the children who need good homes.

What about football do you like so much?" asked CBS4's Jorge Estevez to Isaiah Peets an 11 year old looking to be adopted. "I like to run," answered Peets who is looking for a good family. "What do you want your family out there to know about you," asked Estevez. "That I am nice, intelligent and I like to have fun," answered Peets.

The exhibit, which will be on display through October 22, is being hosted by the Division of Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs at MIA. The Miami heart gallery has had 38 matches since June. "We have people in different stages of the adoption process," said Emily Cardenas from the Children's Trust. "It's working. Believe me it's working," said Cardenas.

Another boy, Patrix Edwards hopes it works for him. "Come on show me," gestured Estevez as the fifteen year old took him to see his picture on the wall. Edwards wants what every child deserves. "A responsible parent, a reliable parent," said Edwards who has been waiting for a family for five years. "It's time for a family," said Edwards.

Parents in Miami Dade interested in adopting any child from The Children's Trust Miami Heart Gallery can call The Children's Trust Helpline at 211 where specially trained Switchboard of Miami counselors are standing by, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in English, Spanish and Creole. In Broward, call (305) 631-4211.

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