{Audience Approval}

Audience Approval

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

People watch a concert Wednesday evening at Blue Back Square in West Hartford, where young artists, including a young man who was adopted, performed in an event designed to raise awareness about the rewards of being a foster parent.

{David Veslocki}

David Veslocki

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

David Veslocki, of the band Mr. Ozwald, performs Wednesday night at Blue Back Square in a concert that was organized to raise awareness about the rewards of being a foster parent. Veslocki is a West Hartford resident.

{Moving Performance}

Moving Performance

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

Dancers perform at Wednesday night's concert at Blue Back Square. The event was organized to raise awareness of the rewards of being a foster parent. In conjunction with the concert, 500 luminaria were to light Blue Back Square, to represent the inspiration and hope that foster families provide to children who need a home.

{Front Row Seats}

Front-Row Seats

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

At Blue Back Square in West Hartford on Wednesday night, children listen to a concert designed to raise awareness of the rewards of being a foster parent.

{Courtney Drummey}

Courtney Drummey, David Veslocki

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

Singer-songwriter Courtney Drummey of Simsbury, left, performs with David Veslocki of West Hartford during a concert at Blue Back Square in West Hartford Wednesday to raise awareness about the rewards of being a foster parent.

{Mayor Slifka}

West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka, Daughter Betsy

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka, holding his 8-month-old daughter Betsy, reads a proclamation proclaiming May to be Foster Care Month in West Hartford during a concert at Blue Back Square on Wednesday evening. The event was organized to raise awareness of the rewards of being a foster parent. At left, holding the proclamation, is Shari Cantor, a West Hartford Town Council member.

{Dashawn Rayon}

Dashawn Rayon

(Hartford Courant / March 17, 2009)

Dashawn Rayon, 17, of Hamden, sings "My Mother's Words," a song he wrote, during a concert at Blue Back Square in West Hartford Wednesday night. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the rewards of being a foster parent. Rayon was born in Middletown and was adopted in 1996. He said that the song is about how his adopted family has changed his perspective on life.

{Family}

Family Values

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

BLUE BACK SQUARE in West Hartford was alive with 500 luminaria, music and smiles Wednesday night during a concert to promote foster parenting. Roger Lagasse, president of the Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents, was there to help prop up his granddaughter, Gabriella Vicens, 4, for a better view of the fun. Gabriella's mom, Leanne Wysocki, far left, and aunt, Pamela Lagasse, 6, were there to enjoy the evening, too.

{Allie Nicholson-Gauvin}

Allie Nicholson-Gauvin And Sandy Gauvin

(RICK HARTFORD / HARTFORD COURANT / March 17, 2009)

Allie Nicholson-Gauvin, 7, of West Hartford, sits with her grandmother, Sandy Gauvin, of Unionville, in Blue Back Square Wednesday evening during a concert that was organized to raise awareness about the rewards of being a foster parent. Allie is adopted.

Five hundred luminaria were to light Blue Back Square to represent the inspiration and hope that foster families provide to children who need a home. According to the state Department of Children and Families, about 5,000 children live in state care, and about 68 percent of those children live with a family. The state wants more children to enjoy the benefits of a home, the DCF said in a news release about the concert.