Photographers from Across the Country Provide Smiles
In October, participating member studios of Professional
Photographers of America (PPA) joined together for "Family Portrait
Month," a national fund-raising effort to benefit Operation Smile. Nearly 350 photographers from 41 states and the District of Columbia
participated in the campaign. On January 10, during the PPA Imaging
USA 2009 convention in Phoenix, Arizona, PPA Charities presented a
$50,635.21 check to Operation Smile. The reception and check
presentation was held at Alice Cooperstown. During the four-year
partnership, PPA Charities has raised more than $150,000 for Operation
Smile. (Visit Operation Smile for the full release: www.operationsmile.org/media/news/photographers-from-across-the.html)
PPA Charities' over $50,000 donation occurred during a time when many were toning down their charitable donations. In fact, during a four-year partnership, PPA Charities has raised more than $150,000 for Operation Smile...translating into helping hundreds of children and young adults. PPA photographer Graham Wilson of Colorado was the largest donor to Operation Smile through the 2008 Family Portrait Month campaign, raising $10,000. By generating the largest donation during Family Portrait Month, Wilson won the chance to photograph an upcoming Operation Smile international medical mission. Will you join in the effort to help create smiles this year? Look for more information on Family Portrait Month (October) coming soon--www.ppacharities.com. About PPA Charities: About Operation Smile:
PPA Charities is a charitable, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reaching out and touching the lives of children in need. It allows imaging professionals to combine their individual efforts to make an impact on the lives of children and families everywhere.
(www.ppacharities.com)
Founded in 1982, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children's medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 120,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in 51 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency. (www.operationsmile.org.)
