Members of the $29 billion State Employees' Credit Union will be able to see foster care children who are looking for adoptive parents through a display of photographs at the cooperative's 254 branches.

The NC Heart Gallery will feature a rotation of exhibits featuring professional portraits of some of North Carolina's eligible foster youth, according to the Raleigh, N.C.-based SECU.

The displays include a biography on each child along with foster and adoptive parenting information.

State Employees' said its participation and goal is to promote the adoption of foster kids and encourage North Carolina citizens to become foster or adoptive parents.

“As a foster and adoptive parent, I've had a front row seat at seeing some of the pain and suffering these children have endured, and it's heartbreaking,” Judith Dorsey, SECU card services compliance manager, said.

She added, “This is an amazing project and I'm so proud that the organization I work for is taking part in raising awareness and helping to give these children who desperately need and want a family a greater chance at the life they deserve.”

The credit union cited data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services that showed there were almost 10,000 children in foster care in the Tar Heel state as of the end of November 2014. Approximately 500 kids age out of the foster care system without a permanent family, according to SECU.

“We are excited to partner with State Employees' Credit Union on a project that will help open a dialogue in our local communities about foster care and adoption,” Jamie Bazemore, adoption program manager with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services-Division of Social Services, said. “SECU's participation will play an integral role in heightening awareness and providing foster youth with maximum exposure to potential adoptive parents.”