Austin Photographers Serving the Community

• 2012 Intergenerational Day Photo Contest!
  Sponsored by Youth2Seniors and Kevin Gourley Photography
  Photographers, enter this photo contest on the topic: "Engaging Youth, Enhancing Lives of Senior Citizens, Bridging Generations" and get involved in Intergenerational Day 2012 on April 28th!
   
• Green Doors
  Our Project to Provide Cameras for a Local Nonprofit Organization Named 'Green Doors' was a Success!   With your donations, combined with our donation-matching by Kevin Gourley Photography, and the generous help of Precision Camera and Video in providing the cameras at cost, Green Doors now has with SIX BRAND NEW CAMERAS for use in their classes!
   
• Austin Parks Photo Project
  The Austin Parks Foundation is looking for volunteers to go to area parks and take photos of their beauty and unique features. It's a fun project that is quite literally a walk in the park!
  More Info:  www.austinparks.org/photos.html
   
• Here are a couple of things posted by forthecity.org:

WONDERS & WORRIES
Photographer
Wonders & Worries helps children cope when a parent faces a serious or life-threatening illness. They host 6-8 client events throughout the year and would like a photographer to capture high quality, print-ready images for public relations and media opportunities. Photography experience is required (professional-grade camera and portfolio/samples), and a five-day turnaround of digital images is requested.
Click here for details... http://forthecity.org/x/4433

IMAGINE ART
Photographer
Imagine Art is a ministry serving artists with disabilities in East Austin. They are looking for a photographer to assist with a variety of projects, including taking candid photos of artists at work in the studio and at special events, partnering with video team to take photos that accompany artists’ video testimonies, and training staff on how to better light and document pieces of art. An experienced photographer is preferred, and lights, tripod and camera can be provided as needed.
Click here for details... http://forthecity.org/x/4280

• Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
  Their mission:  "To introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with the free gift of professional portraiture.  We believe these images serve as an important step in the family's healing process by honoring their child's legacy."
  http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org
   
• Photograph Dogs & Cats at the Humane Society of Williamson County
  Note from one of my photography students:  "I recently started volunteering at the Humane Society of Williamson County. One of my jobs is Talent Agent, which means I get to run around the place with my camera & take glamour shots of the cats & dogs, write short bios for each animal and then upload the information to the HSWC website.  I thought some of your other students may be interested in this opportunity to play with their cameras for a good cause."
  If anyone is interested in becoming a Talent Agent at HSWC you can find their contact information here:   http://hswc.net/get_involved.html
  
   
• Cookies for Kids Cancer
  Use your photography skills to fight pediatric cancer! Cookies for Kids Cancer is a non-profit organization founded by a mom whose little boy was diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer at the age of 2. She quickly realized that pediatric cancer research is grossly underfunded, receiving only 4% of overall cancer research funds. Studies that have the potential to save the lives of infants and children sit on the shelves awaiting funding. Cookies for Kids Cancer donates 100% of funds raised to pediatric cancer research and in 4 years of doing so has managed to fund studies! It doesn't necessarily take millions of dollars...every little bit makes a difference! Sadly, Liam, the inspiration behind the organization, died in January after bravely battling cancer for 4 of his 6 years on this earth! A group of local moms called Austin's Good Cookies is raising awareness and raising funds in hopes that research will save other families from the devastation of pediatric cancer. We are looking for photographers to donate their time to host a day (or weekend or more) of mini-sessions with sitting fees going to our cause. You have great potential to make an impact on this cause! Families are always 'meaning' to get that child or family portrait done, but procrastination gets the best of them....knowing their fees are going to a good cause helps them motivate. A group of photographers in Houston recently banded together in this way and raised a good amount of money for pediatric cancer research. I know Austin can do the same! Our event will take place on September 10th. While we would love for your donation to coincide with our fundraiser on that weekend, we have some businesses hosting events during the week leading up to it as well. This is also a great opportunity for publicity! Austin's Good Cookies is being represented by PR firm PorterNovelli. They will be managing the media to raise awareness and create buzz for donors and sponsors! Please contact Trisha Shepard at trisha.h.shepard@gmail.com for more information!
  
   
• Other Opportunities
  • Personal Energy Transportation - Austin
    Granted, this isn't really a photography opportunity, but we recently opened up an opportunity for my photography students to come out and help this organization and had several helpers show up. We had a great time!  This nonprofit volunteer group manufactures and distributes a three-wheeled hand-powered wheelchair for persons in developing countries who have lost the use of their legs due to birth defects, polio, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, landmines or war.
    
     
• If you know of other opportunities for photographers to serve the community, feel free to let me know and I will be happy to post them here!