On September 10, 2001, I started a three-month sabbatical from my 70-hour-a-week corporate job. The next day was 9/11. After that tragic day, it was hard to imagine going back to a job that had seemed critically important but now felt largely meaningless.
Becoming a photographer has given me a wonderful opportunity to give back. The work I am most proud of is the pro bono pictures I take for various non-profit organizations that are making a difference in the lives of area children.
The pictures I take are used for everything from fundraising to public relations activities. In the cases of children in foster care, the photos are given to the children themselves and are also used to help identify prospective adoptive parents.
Below are links to the organizations to which I’m proud to give back.
Local Children in Foster Care
- DC Metro Area Wednesday’s Child (1-88-TO-ADOPT-ME)
- Fairfax, VA, Fairfax Familes4Kids (703 324-7656)
- Washington DC, Child and Family Services, Foster Care and Adoption (202 671-LOVE)
- Freddie Mac Foundation Heart Gallery
Other Non-Profits
- Paws4People (Graduation Ceremony Slideshow/my work with paws4people)
- The Picture of Hope: Building self esteem in Mississippi school children through pictures.
Awards
- 2011 – 2012 Metropolitan Council of Governments Regional Partnership Award (See Introduction and Acceptance Speech)
- 2008 Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments – Work of Heart: Wednesday’s Child Volunteer of the Year
- 2008 Volunteer Fairfax: Children/Youth at Risk
- 2008 Volunteer Fairfax – Benchmark 1000
- 2006 National Adoption Month, Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption Program
- 2006 Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Work of Heart
Advocating for Children in Foster Care
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