Salons will compete to help children in foster care

A friendly competition between stylists at two local hair salons could be a coup for youngsters in foster care seeking a forever home.

Tribeca Colorsalons in Ybor City and downtown Tampa are displaying the Heart Gallery through February as part of an event dubbed Love is in the Hair. The display will bring attention to more than 100 foster children in Hillsborough County who are seeking new families.

The salons are collecting money to be used to enhance the quality of life for those in foster care.

The Heart Gallery, put together by the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, is a photo collage of children available for adoption. Each child's photograph and a short biography is included in the gallery.

Stylists at the Tribeca Colorsalons are also competing to see who can get the most clients to donate to a new fund to provide a few extras for foster children. The winning stylist gets a free massage.

Along with a donation, clients will write a Valentine's card to a foster child.

"The money is going to fill gaps of services," Heart Gallery Director Jesse Miller said. "One of our big missions is to improve quality of life for these kids while they are in foster care. Last week, we had a girl who auditioned for choir and needed $75 for a choir robe. Another kid needed cleats and a uniform for baseball."

Brandon Wagner, owner of Tribeca Colorsalons, is "a bleeding heart who is always looking for ways to help us," Miller said. "This is our first business co-promotion."

Wagner is matching client donations and will cut a check for the Heart Gallery at the end of the month, Miller said.

The salons will do makeovers for several teen girls in foster care and who are about to get their photos included in the Heart Gallery. "It's not something they typically get," Miller said.

Tribeca salons are at 920 W. Kennedy Blvd. and 1600 E. 8th Ave., A-137, in the Centro Ybor complex.

To view the Heart Gallery or make a donation, go to www.heartgallery tampabay.org.