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<\/a>Photo Credit Wayne Yasuhara<\/p><\/div>\n
Q. What is Help Portrait?<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> Help Portrait is a non-profit organization founded by Celebrity Photographer, Jeremy Cowart.\u00a0 It is a Global movement of photographers using their talent, and their gear to give back to their communities.<\/p>\n We are not taking pictures, we are GIVING pictures, and because this is done during the holiday season, we have the opportunity to give a family something that they may not have been able to afford or have access to, a family portrait.\u00a0 The photos are not for the photographer\u2019s portfolios or for sale, as a matter of fact, money is not involved, again, it is a GIFT.<\/p>\n OUR PROGRESS TO-DATE<\/p>\n 201,367 portraits given<\/p>\n 16,488 photographers<\/p>\n 23,984 volunteers<\/p>\n 1,720 locations<\/p>\n 60 \u00a0 countries<\/p>\n Q. How did you get involved in Help Portrait- Berkeley Division?<\/strong><\/p>\n A. <\/strong>I will never forget when I got a call from Joey Chandler who is the Project Leader for the San Francisco area Help Portrait.\u00a0 He had implemented an Oakland Division, and I was on board for that location.\u00a0 He then received an inquiry from a Berkeley-based agency, The Berkeley Food & Housing Project, and Joey simply asked if I wanted to lead that location.\u00a0 How could I resist?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t and last year was my first year as Site Manager for the agency.\u00a0 And now, a year later, I am eager and thrilled to be involved, to meet so many wonderful participants as well as meeting the many photographers and volunteers that all come together for a common purpose, community.<\/p>\n Q.\u00a0 What have you gained from leading help portrait?<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> There is nothing better than to receive a \u201chug\u201d from a complete stranger who said to me \u201cI like you!\u201d I can\u2019t explain it but it\u2019s much better than a paycheck, the moment stays with you forever when you know that you made a difference in the life of just one if not many.\u00a0 And trust me, the many smiles, tears, and thank you\u2019s shared at the event is to say the least, better than \u201cQueen for a Day!\u201d<\/p>\n Q.\u00a0 What does it take to get a help portrait event going?<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> Knowing your community, addressing the need, and serving the purpose.\u00a0 In this case The Berkeley Food & Housing Project has an ongoing mission to ease and end the crisis of homelessness providing emergency food and shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing and placement of support services to individuals and families.\u00a0 They have been around since 1970 serving many programs that serve men, women, children, and a broad spectrum of specialized needs.<\/p>\n Q. How can everyday people help?<\/strong><\/p>\n A. <\/strong>The event takes place Saturday December 8, 2012 9am-6pm, and if one is available, with a willingness to serve, that is how they can help!\u00a0 You can call me at 510.965.1564, or you can sign yourself up where you see a \u201cneed\u201d , or where you feel you would be an asset.<\/p>\n Another way to help us besides volunteering your time is making a donation at http:\/\/hpberkeley.com<\/a> we need funds for the ink and printer paper for the portraits and if we have anything left over we would like to purchase 5×7 photo frames of photo folios for the participants to place their portraits in.\u00a0 Again it’s a gift and we’d like them to enjoy the complete experience.<\/p>\n This is the link to our Sign Up Sheet, we would LOVE to have you!<\/p>\n https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheet\/ccc?key=0AvJ_mZ5_PynedHF2YzJwUDU0WkZyQnBUb3NpNjYtMkE&pli=1#gid=2<\/a><\/p>\n I’d like to take this time and thank Dario Leventini of F3 Studios whose not only helping to promote this cause, but is also a volunteer himself for this years project, he makes me proud of our community of photographers. See you on December 8th!<\/p>\n find Barbara on the web. w| www.ystudiophotography.com<\/a><\/p>\n Facebook|http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ystudiophotography<\/a><\/p>\n ____________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n I am also very excited to be apart of Help Portrait Berkeley!<\/p>\n Thank you for reading, we hope to see you there!<\/p>\n Dario<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n