Arizona Heart Gallery -- About Us

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ABOUT US

Arizona Heart Gallery works in collaboration with: Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Children, Youth, and Families

Mission:

To capture the individual spirits of foster children through photographs displayed throughout the state to attract potential adoptive and foster families.

History of the Heart Gallery:

The first Heart Gallery was started in New Mexico in 2001 by Diane Granito. There are currently 80 Heart Gallery units in 48 states. Some are organized by state, some by region, some by county. The success statistics are positively staggering. Hundreds of children who had little or no chance for adoption have been placed in forever homes. The number of foster families has also increased greatly.

How the Arizona Heart Gallery Began:

In January 2005, our founder, Kathleen Conti, was just 15 years old when she saw an article in Parade Magazine, and decided she wanted to help. She had a growing interest in photography as well as a friend who had been in foster care. Kathleen convinced her parents to visit New Mexico’s gallery, and she contacted DES and photographers statewide and got the excitement started in Arizona.

The goal of the Arizona Heart Gallery is to take professional, heart-reaching portraits of our state's most vulnerable children in foster care and promote finding forever homes for them. Arizona Heart Gallery is an all-volunteer organization.