Houston Photographer Cindy Crofford is one of several hundred PPA-member photographers throughout the U.S. and in Australia who have launched fund-raising campaigns in support of Operation Smile. Cindy, who is a longstanding participant in Family Portrait Month, and who was one of the first PPA studios to become a PPA Charities Operation Smile Studio, recently experienced a tangible reminder of the importance of the mission supported by Operation Smile.

Not long ago Cindy photographed a portrait session for a very special mom and daughter. Michelle has been a mom to her adopted two-year-old daughter Lily for only a few months when they came for the portrait session, but she and her husband have been in Lily’s life since the day she came to live in the Chinese orphanage where the family had registered for adoption. The abandoned baby girl had been born with a cleft lip/palate, and Michelle and her husband Brandon provided financial support for corrective surgery for the baby, who has blossomed into a beautiful toddler who will enjoy a normal life because of the gift of surgery.

“Seeing Lily, and knowing how different her life would have been without the support of her new family,” said Cindy, “really drove home how important it is to support an organization such as Operation Smile.”

This year Cindy advertised Family Portrait Month through a post card sent to her clients, the front of which is pictured above. The back copy side of the card is shown below.

Cindy recently produced a 12-page 6”x9” family portrait booklet that includes this page devoted to the studio’s support of Operation Smile:

A page on Cindy’s website also advertises Family Portrait Month to site visitors.

Thanks to Cindy and to all those who are raising funds for Operation Smile through PPA Charities!

With less than three months left in its 2010 fund-raising campaign, PPA members need to contribute approximately $78,311 if PPA Charities is to reach its $120,000 goal in support of its charitable partner Operation Smile. During 2009, PPA members contributed a record $100,000 to Operation Smile, and if this year’s goal is met, then PPA members will have made it possible for as many as 500 children to receive the gift of life-changing surgery provided by the volunteer medical staff of Operation Smile.

Fortunately, PPA members will have plenty of opportunities to help: Funds can be raised through Family Portrait Month activities during October and November, and on November 1, the 2011 PPA Charities Operation Smile Studio campaign will begin; 7 studios have already registered to be PPACH Operation Smile Studios for 2011, so we hope you will be among the first to join them by donating at least $240 to PPA Charities!

Several individuals and companies have just announced plans to support Operation Smile through their special fund raising activities. For example, well-known Orlando, Florida, portrait photographer and teacher Tim Kelly is preparing to launch a Facebook event that will allow donors to encourage Tim to cut his currently long “artistic” hair to more of a “corporate” look. Tim hopes to raise $10,000 through this good-grooming effort.

Springfield, Illinois, photographer and marketing guru Sarah Petty is “cooking up” some fund-raising recipes that she will announce soon through her Joy of Marketing organization. Last year, Sarah raised a remarkable $24,000 for Operation Smile through her Joy to the World websummit.

So please join with us in showing the world what committed professional photographers can achieve when they stand together to make a difference in the lives of precious children whose lives can be changed forever through the gift of surgery.