More than just a photo...
The Heart Gallery
of South Central Texas
The Heart Gallery of South Central Texas is a gateway to permanency for youth in foster care! It includes a travelling portrait gallery that features photos and stories of youth in search of their forever family, and it also serves the community in the following ways:
• Inspiring community awareness through resource sharing, volunteer recruitment, and events
• Centralizing information for foster and adoptive parents
• Issuing grant funding to partner organizations
• Providing expertise on the local child welfare system and permanency efforts
The Heart Gallery of South Central Texas is generously funded by Heart Galleries of Texas (link to HG of Texas site)
The Heart Gallery focuses on a holistic approach to helping children and young adults experiencing foster care.
We work with state and local foster agencies to help children get into Heart Galleries. Statistics show when a child appears in a Heart Gallery, their chance of adoption goes up by 60%.
Once a child graduates from the Heart Gallery, they are not alone. Post adoption support from THRU Project is available to aid in their transition to independent living and adulthood.
Courtney Laverty
Courtney brings over twenty years of nonprofit experience to the THRU Project team. She has worked for national organizations such as the United Way and CASA as well as grassroots organizations specializing in teen counseling, shelter for youth in foster care, and mentoring.
She graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and went on to earn a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Northern Illinois University. Courtney’s commitment to the fundraising profession led her to become a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 2020.
Courtney grew up near Chicago and discovered the joy of giving back at an early age. Her desire to help others reach their full potential has been a guiding force throughout her career. She and her husband moved to San Antonio with their three children in 2015. Courtney serves on the board of Impact San Antonio.
CEO, THRU PROJECT
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Emily Marcotte
Emily is a passionate community builder, and she has over fifteen years of experience working with youth who have lived experience in foster care and/or homelessness. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in 2008 and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Arizona Global Campus in 2012.
She began working in the nonprofit field with youth while she was in college, and her career has progressed in the field ever since. Her accomplishments include securing a $6.88 million grant to address youth homelessness in San Antonio, and developing the UTSA Fostering Futures Program as the founding director to serve former foster youth seeking higher education.
Most recently, Emily joined the team at THRU Project as Heart Gallery Director in March 2024 to launch the initiative across the Texas Hill Country. She actively serves on the Board of Directors for Thrive Youth Center. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, reading, the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and being a dog mom.
DIRECTOR
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THRU Project bridges the gap between foster care and adulthood for youth who age out of the foster care system.
Exiting foster care alone at age 18 can be overwhelming. The statistics show increased rates of homelessness, unplanned pregnancy, and incarceration amongst foster alumni.
THRU Project provides youth with a history of foster care, ages 14 to 25, with a caring mentor, rent-free housing, mental health support, life skills workshops, bus passes and cell phones.
About THRU Project
The Heart Gallery of South Central Texas is sponsored by THRU Project
We used it before the hipsters did.
film
Infinite battery life, no loading time, no data fees.
paper
Wouldn't it be awesome if these were wearable?
flowers
Please fill out your information and submit the form below.
You can also reach us by email at heartgallery@thruproject.org
or give us a call (210) 852-0220.
Please fill out your information and submit the form below.
You can also reach us by email at heartgallery@THRUProject.org or give us a call (210) 852-0220.
