Monday, June 09, 2008

Images of Hope, call for models - and GRANT UPDATE!

SO many exciting things to share! First of all - I HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS A FINALIST for the Idea Cafe Small Business Grant! This grant will help fund my Images of Hope in Las Vegas campaign, which is detalied more below. Now it is up to the public to vote. Please check out the finalist page above and CAST YOUR VOTE by June 22, 2008! (you have to sign up but it's for a good cause! And you can cancel at any time.)



The Images of Hope in Las Vegas campaign was inspired by a photographer named Lisa McSpadden that did a similar project for a hospital in Arkansas. When I heard about what she had done, I knew we needed something like that here, and so Images of Hope in Las Vegas was born.

(below is an excerpt from some of my promotional materials, detailing the project)

I have had the honor of recently photographing a client whose daughter was born 9 weeks early and spent over two months in the NICU. Those two months were extremely hard for the family because they were surrounded by other sick babies born too soon. They had to watch other babies go home after several weeks and they also saw some babies that never got to go home at all. Over the course of their daughter's stay in the NICU, the one thing that gave them a sense of hope was a little corkboard in the room that held snapshots of children who were former residents of the NICU - now happy and healthy and thriving. They talked about it being their goal one day to be one of "those families" that could share their story of triumph after leaving the NICU. Just last month I was able to take photos at their daughter’s first birthday party, where she, too, was a happy and thriving toddler. They have become a success story – and they want to be sure their story is shared with others.

I would like to create a photo gallery wall in or around the NICU at one or more local hospitals entitled "Images of Hope." It will include large, captioned, professional portraits of different NICU "graduates" - the seven year old who was born 10 weeks early that now loves to go to gymnastics class, the three year old who was born weighing only two pounds and now chases his dog around the neighborhood, or the linebacker who spent the first 8 weeks of his life under the care of NICU doctors. I would use these "Images of Hope" to artistically portray the success stories that come out of the NICU. They will enhance the otherwise ordinary hospital walls with artwork and will also provide a much needed reminder to those parents who spend their child's first weeks (or months) in that hospital ward that there will be life and hope beyond those sterile walls.

The name of the campaign was perfect - little Hope is a perfect spokesmodel (well, she can't speak yet... but her mommy and daddy sure can!) for NICU graduates! Shortly after beginning this project, I contacted Hope's mommy who put me in touch with the director of Program Services at the March of Dimes in Las Vegas. She is just as excited as I am about doing this, and we have recently put out a call for models so we can build our portfolio of images to include in our displays! If you or anyone you know anyone who fits the bill, let us know ASAP!

IMAGES OF HOPE MODEL SEARCH
Do you (or someone you know) have a child that spent the early part of his or her life in the NICU? We are looking for children and teenagers, ages 1-19, who would like to be photographed for an upcoming display that will feature NICU graduates. Participants in the FREE photo shoot agree to have their images on display, and will receive a complimentary 5x7 image from their session for their willingness to participate. The first session will be held on THURSDAY, JUNE 12th at 4 pm at UNLV. For more information or to sign up to participate, contact Jessie at 219.8166 as soon as possible! We would love to see you there!

And remember... the money from the Idea Cafe grant will specifically help fund this program - but I do need your votes! If you are so inclined, let others know! Together we can do something very special.

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