OLYMPIA -- Washington's nationally recognized Heart Gallery photographic exhibit will be visiting Grays Harbor October 1 - 30. The display will be located at the Grays Harbor YMCA, 2500 Simpson Avenue, Hoquiam WA, 98550. Local residents are featured in mentor and employment portraits.

Twenty-six local photographers donated their talent and time in this year's photo shoots across the state. For many clients, this is the first time they have been photographed professionally, with artistic and creative attention given to their portraits, and it is making a difference.

Since the first Heart Gallery exhibit in 2004:

• At least 116 new families asked to become adoptive parents.
• 26 of the 48 children in need of adoption have been placed into adoptive homes.
• At least 38 new families asked to become foster families.
• At least 49 people asked to become mentors for teens.
• At least 33 people asked to volunteer with adults with disabilities or seniors.

The Heart Gallery has received over 168,000 visits to the virtual Heart Gallery.

In its fourth year, the 2007 Washington State Heart Gallery photography exhibit includes 57 portraits of Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) clients – children looking for adoptive parents, teens and their mentors, adults with disabilities, and seniors.

"The photographs are very large and beautiful they physically draw you closer to the display," says Samantha Barker, Heart Gallery project manager. "Once people start reading the photo captions about a child or a family the casual observer suddenly becomes more interested in the lives of these people."

Washington was the fifth state to begin a Heart Gallery and the only state to expand the project from adoptions to including mentoring, employment for adults with disabilities, volunteer work with seniors, and foster parent recruitment.

For an exhibit schedule and a virtual tour of the 2007 Heart Gallery portraits, visit www.dshs.wa.gov/heartgallery.