At BEAR, we are honored to partner with organizations that share our passion for helping children in foster care find loving, permanent homes. One such partner, Brookfield Properties, has gone above and beyond by opening their malls and hearts to be a permanent host of the Heart Gallery of Greater Houston, a powerful photographic exhibit that gives a face to children waiting for adoption.
Shoppers at all five Brookfield Properties mall locations in the greater Houston area now have the opportunity to see these heartfelt portraits and learn how they can make a difference in a local child in need of a family.
These include:
- Baybrook Mall
- Deerbrook Mall
- First Colony Mall
- Willowbrook Mall
- The Woodlands Mall
What is the Heart Gallery?
The Heart Gallery of Greater Houston is a traveling photographic exhibit and community awareness initiative designed to highlight the children in foster care who are waiting for a forever home. With the help of talented professional photographers and dedicated local businesses, these exhibits introduce the community to children seeking adoption in a way that is personal, meaningful, and impactful.
Each portrait tells a story—giving a glimpse into a child’s personality, hopes, and dreams. By sharing their images, we aim to connect these children with families who are ready to provide them with love, stability, and the home they deserve.
Why is This So Important?
Every day, more than 6,000 children in Texas foster care are waiting for adoption. Many of them are older children, part of sibling groups, or have unique medical needs, making it even more challenging to find permanent homes. Without adoption, many will face uncertain futures, aging out of the system without the family support they need.
Children who age out of foster care without being adopted are at greater risk of experiencing homelessness, incarceration, or unemployment. The Heart Gallery is a critical initiative that helps change these outcomes by increasing awareness and creating meaningful connections between children and potential adoptive families.
How Brookfield Properties is Making a Difference
Brookfield Properties understands the power of community. By hosting the Heart Gallery in five of their Greater Houston malls, they are providing an invaluable platform to raise awareness and inspire action. Thousands of shoppers will see the faces of these incredible children, sparking conversations about adoption and encouraging families to consider opening their hearts and homes.
Their commitment to fostering hope and connection is truly commendable, and we are incredibly grateful for their generosity and advocacy.
How You Can Help
Brookfield Properties is setting an incredible example of how businesses can make a lasting impact. If you’d like to join the effort, there are several ways to get involved:
- Host a Heart Gallery Exhibit – Whether you own a business, attend a church, or lead a community organization, you can provide a space for these powerful portraits to be seen.
- Volunteer as a Heart Gallery Photographer – Help capture the personality and spirit of a child in need of adoption through professional portraits.
- Support Financially – Donations help us expand the Heart Gallery, increase outreach efforts, and support families post-adoption.
The Heart Gallery of Greater Houston is growing! Now serving all 13 counties in Texas DFPS Region 6, the Heart Gallery is expanding its reach to connect even more children with forever families. The counties included in this expansion are:
- Harris
- Fort Bend
- Galveston
- Brazoria
- Matagorda
- Wharton
- Colorado
- Austin
- Waller
- Montgomery
- Walker
- Liberty
- Chambers
With this expansion, businesses, faith-based organizations, and community groups across all 13 counties can participate by hosting a Heart Gallery exhibit. By displaying these portraits, organizations can help raise awareness and increase the chances of adoption for children in the foster care system.
To learn more about hosting the Heart Gallery of Greater Houston, please visit heartgalleryhouston.org.
From all of us at BEAR, THANK YOU Brookfield Properties, for your unwavering commitment to these children and their futures!
