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National Project benefits local homeless shelters
For the third year in a row, General Motors (GM), The Salvation Army and Linda Solomon, a nationally recognized and award-winning photojournalist, have partnered to help underprivileged children in a project called “Pictures of Hope.” Solomon, who has dedicated her career to bringing awareness to children’s causes, focused her attention on Salvation Army shelters in 2005 with a groundbreaking photography project in Detroit called “My Holiday Wish.” The project, which expanded in 2006, gained national acclaim from media and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, People magazine and USA Today.
This summer, children from Salvation Army programs and shelters in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Memphis, San Diego and Tucson took part in Pictures of Hope by participating in a photography workshop led by Solomon. They learned the art of photography and how to properly use a camera. Then, with Solomon’s help, they documented their hopes and dreams for a better life. With a disposable camera donated by GM, each child was able to go “out on assignment” at The Salvation Army center that afternoon, and in his or her neighborhood over the next few days, to capture photos of people, places or things that would help illustrate their individual hopes and dreams.
Coordinating the project in the Western Territory were Suzi Woodruff Lacey in San Diego and Tamara McElwee in Tucson.
While in San Diego, Solomon commented: “The children here today aren’t hoping for Nintendos or iPods—they’re hoping for the things that are truly important.”
Nine-year-old Brittnie said, “I hope for my dad to get better and my parents to get back together.”
Solomon added, “My hope for the children is for them to believe they matter, that we respect what they hope for in life, and every child deserves a chance to dream.”
In the fall, through GM’s sponsorship, each child’s best image was reproduced as a greeting card and grouped into a box with the cards of the other children from that city.
The Pictures of Hope greeting cards are now available to the public for purchase. Most importantly, 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of these cards will benefit the local Salvation Army programs that participated in this project. The cards are available by making a donation to one of those six Salvation Army locations. For every $20 donated, The Salvation Army will send one box of cards from that city. For every $100 donated, The Salvation Army will send six boxes of cards.
Orders may be placed by credit card at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or online at www.salvationarmyusa.org/.
For information on the San Diego cards, you may contact Suzi Woodruff Lacey at suzi_woodruff_lacey@usw.salvationarmy.org, and for the Tucson cards, contact Tamara McElwee at tamara_mcelwee@usw.salvationarmy.org.