You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.
You know someone. I guarantee it.
I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $500 worth, to be exact. Whether they choose a gallery-wrapped canvas, an album, or prints for Grandma. . . it’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season. Oh, and a little bonus…the person who nominates the winner receives a $100 print credit. What better reason do you need to show some love?
The rules:
1. You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar vacation home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
2. The nominee must reside in the Kansas City area or be able to travel here for their session. If your nominee lives outside the area, send me an e-mail, anyway. There are loads of incredible photographers partnering on this project and there’s sure to be one near you.
3. Comment on this blog entry to let me know you’ve entered and e-mail me the full story: heidiabbott@thrivecreativestudio.com. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve their life translated into art. Please include contact information for your nominee and yourself. The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve . . . get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season. And thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.
With love,
Heidi
Kristen Kalp of Essential Imagery, the brainchild behind Giving is Awesome, has taken this philanthropy effort to new heights. Currently, there are 79 volunteer photographers from 3 continents donating their time and art – worth over $130,000 – to the people who need it the most. But photographers are signing up by the hour and the circle of giving is getting bigger and bigger. If you live outside the Kansas Ctiy metro area and you want to nominate a deserving person, couple or family, visit Kristen’s Giving is Awesome website for the latest linkable list of participating photographers.
Heidi,
I just sent you an email with my aunt’s story. I am so grateful to you for the opportunity to nominate her. She is an amazing woman that is struggling terribly. Writing her story has left me in tears. I know that whoever you gift this to will be so blessed by your talent and generosity.
Thanks for what you are doing, it is amazing.
Shawna
Hi Heidi…I’m commenting on your blog!
I want to nominate Jessica and Jake Gumble. Even though they don’t live in Kansas and I’m not sure by the above map if there are any photographers in the Raleigh area involved in this endeavor, I nomimante them anyway.
Why? Because they could never afford to have such quality photography taken of their family and I belive that Jessica, especially, needs to be honored and blessed. She, after all, is one of my heros. A young mother, expecting her 4th child any day. Three years ago this past October Jessica made one of the most ultimate sacrifices of love a woman can give. She gave her newborn son, Zachery, to another family to adopt because she knew in her heart she could never give him the life he deserved at that time and she prayed and believed that God would honor her decision. I watched her go through her labor and delivery with such amazing grace, knowing she would see her newborn son for only a day. She amazed me with her faith and trust in God. The right thing to do is seldom the easiest, but I got to witness first hand God’s grace in action. The following day she held her son for the last time. She never cried, not then. She couldn’t walk him to the nursery like she had planned and asked if I would. Zachary was awake and never took his eyes off me as I took the long walk down the corridor to the nursery to deliver my grandson and say goodbye to him. My daughter’s strenth still amazes me. She believed it was what God wanted her to do and she obeyed without hesitation. Many people prayed for her and she believed that God would bless her again.
Nearly two years ago she met a man and they fell in love. They were married and in July, 2007 Jabob Michael Gumble was born. Now, we have a long standing belief in our family that each family is only allowed one son! We have all only had one son…my mother, my sister, my brother, my aunt and myself! Well God looked down with Mercy and Love upon Jessica and gave her Jacob! And guess what? She is having another boy, Stephen Alexander James, in just a few weeks!!! Her husband Jake is in the process of adopting her oldest daughter Tatum (age 6) and her dreams are coming true, the family she always wanted! She deserves to have a wonderful family picture done when the new baby is here. A reminder that God is good, He is faithful and he Just.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kathy Ceglowski, Jessica’s mom