I Love My Brother.......

A photographer's Story...by Darryl Henderson

He was the one I looked up to growing up and, to this day, I still admire him. I look at him and all I see is my brother: I don’t see a child who was brought into a family. He was adopted at a young age with our family, which is why he is so much of my inspiration to be involved with the Heart Gallery.

t all began with reading an article that my mother had sent to me on the Heart Gallery in New Mexico. Reading the story I filled with a desire to contribute to these children who were searching for a family. This was my opportunity to use what I know about photography to make a difference for someone else.

I found out who was responsible for foster care in Broward County and began making phone calls. A lot of phone calls. I finally got a meeting with Eneather “Sunshine” Murray, an adoption supervisor at Childnet.

The Heart Gallery project came to fruition with our first photo shoot in November, 2006 at the Broward Museum of Discovery and Science. The project was such a huge success with food, drinks, location, studio lighting, and backdrops donated to the project.

After two incredible days of photography the second phase of the project began. The photographers were responsible for downloading, editing and any retouching for their own photos. Each child was to have 4-5 of their best images selected and burned to a CD to be sent in to the Heart Gallery. Once the CD’s were all received the final photos were selected.

At the gallery opening, it was such a wonderful experience to see the light in each one of the kids. All of them full of excitement and hope, wanting nothing more than someone to show them the love they deserve.

That day opened my eyes to how many people out there need our help and how many more are willing to give all they have to help those that are less fortunate. I also realized how lucky I am to have my brother, and I want to see all of these kids find their forever families.

For more on this event

http://www.heartgalleryofbroward.org/