The Progress Energy Heart Gallery Hits a Home Run!
When the Progress Energy Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco Counties opened last summer, one family was smiling bigger than anyone. All because of a little boy named "Jeremy" with boundless energy and a big toothless smile and because of the Progress Energy Heart Gallery which features the faces, voices and stories of local foster children like Jeremy who need adoptive homes.
The Molinet's met "Jeremy" for the first time last year at a Heart Gallery photo shoot arranged by professional photographers Kim & Peggy Warmolts of Lasting Impressions who volunteered to be part of the Heart Gallery. Jeremy's Case Manager Sheryl Allen-Golden of the Safe Children Coalition invited two of her "friends" to come along - Dr. Carmen Molinet and her husband, Luis, who brought along a baseball and glove. Between takes, "Jeremy" and Luis played catch in the open field where the photo shoot was held...and the Molinet's fell in love! Pictured here with "Jeremy's" Heart Gallery portrait, the Molinet's made their love official by adopting "Jeremy" - now named Luis Jeremy Molinet - on (date).
The adoption of Luis Jeremy by the Molinet family is the first of many "happy endings" to come thanks to the generous support of volunteers, sponsors and partners of the Progress Energy Heart Gallery, a traveling museum-quality exhibit that features professional portraits and personal biographies of local foster children in need of adoption. Area professional photographers volunteer their time, and the exhibit moves from venue to venue to such public places as malls, places of worship and libraries.
Today, more than 4,000 children are involved with the local foster care system in Pinellas and Pasco counties. Of these, 500 foster children are ready for adoption and approximately half of them are in need of an adoptive home. Some children need an adoptive family because there are no suitable family members to care for them. Sometimes it's because they have special medical, development or emotional needs that take a special family to provide. Sometimes it's because they are part of a sibling group that want to be adopted together even though families for larger groups are harder to find. Or it may be because they are older and less likely to be matched. These are just some of the reasons and below are just some of the faces and stories of the children of the Progress Energy Heart Gallery...
Photographer Dan Weisberg |
Shawn & Joshua...These big-hearted brothers are looking for patient, loving parents who will allow them grow up together. Eleven-year-old Shawn’s favorite subjects in school are science and art, and he has a passion for marine life. He likes to please others and has a wonderful smile! Joshua is an energetic 8-year-old who loves to ride his bike, play board games and tell really great stories. His favorite subject in school is math, and he describes himself as “helpful and sharing.” Together, little brother Joshua and his big brother Shawn need a family willing to open their heart and home to them.
Monique... Like many girls her age, 15-year-old Monique loves to shop and dress up on social occasions. But, this lively young lady is also part tomboy, listing football and soccer among her favorite sports. And she has a love for music...but, don't all 15 year olds? Above all else, Monique wants a family to call her own...an adoptive forever family.
Picture This! Photography by Lorraine |
Ten-year-old Tremont and nine-year-old Jasmine are one dynamic duo. This brother and sister are looking for the special people who will make their lives complete and become their forever parents. Tremont loves the color yellow, enjoys writing and playing with his GameBoy; he wants to help people when he grows up by becoming a police officer. Tremont is also a natural entertainer and would love to show you his amazing magic tricks. Jasmine describes herself as a “kind” and “lovely” friend who loves ice cream and bunnies. Jasmine also has a creative side, and she displays her talents by making cards. She would love to use her natural ability to help others by becoming a teacher. Both Tremont and Jasmine are grateful to those people in their lives who’ve helped them. Now they’re waiting for that special family who will open their hearts to them and share their lives forever.
The Progress Energy Heart Gallery has made it their mission to find brothers like Shawn and Joshua and teens like Tiffany a forever adoptive home. And they do it in a way that is emotionally safe to the child and to the prospective adoptive family.
In July, the Progress Energy Heart Gallery will "hit another home run" when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays play host to the Heart Gallery at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg! Beginning on Friday July 27th through August 5th, the Progress Energy Heart Gallery will be on exhibit at Tropicana Field near the 1st base food court and will remain on exhibit during the Devil Rays' homestand with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. In addition, local foster children and their foster families will be in attendance and information on fostering/ adopting children will be available to fans.
Pre-game festivities are planned for opening night Friday July 27th and Saturday July 28th. And what opening day pre-game festivity would be complete without a commemorable "first pitch". Friday night's "first pitch" will be thrown by a very special father-son team - Luis Molinet and Luis Jeremy Molinet - who still remember their "first pitch" together. The one in an open field the day they first met on the road to becoming a "forever" family!
For more information on the Progress Energy Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco, or on fostering or adopting children from the local foster care system, please visit our website at www.heartgallerypinellaspasco.org or call toll-free at 1-866-661-5656.
