For those of you who attended the IUSA Pre-convention class on charities, you heard us speak about Daniel’s Care, the pediatric arm of Hospice here in the central Kentucky area. All hospices have a pediatric division; just not named Daniel’s Care as this was named after Rick Pitino’s son, Daniel, who passed away as a child. For those who don’t know who Rick Pitino is, he was our UK Basketball coach several years ago before he moved to the northeast to coach a professional team and then came back to Kentucky (they always do), but took a different position than UK when he became the coach for Louisville. Enough on that, though!

Several years ago (I think about 7), our marketing director, Donna, came to us to discuss a charity we felt we would be compatible with and she actually had Daniel’s Care in mind. What we needed to work out was what to do and how to do it, so we met with the woman in charge of it and talked about what we wanted to accomplish. This is what was decided that day long ago and is still the way we work with Daniel’s Care.

~We do one Black and White “Relationship” portrait per month of a critically ill child with their family which Daniel’s Care chooses based on health factors. We get the most frail children first.

~All portraits are done in our studio (easy since most come to Lexington anyway for doctor’s appointments, etc) and the others live here.

~After the session, we select and print a 16×16 matted, archival fine art black and white portrait which is then matted and framed and ready to hang.

~The social worker in charge gets the portrait and delivers it to the family. No money ever changes hands…EVER!

~We also raise money for the Indigent Fund at Christmas along with collecting toys for the children.

I want all of you who read this to go to our website at www.waldensphotography.com and visit the Daniel’s Care page where you can get the contact information of our local chapter who can then put you in touch with your local chapter. Also, watch the video there-I promise, your hearts will be touched. If you feel you could do a similar concept in your area, please let us know if we can help in any way. After seeing the tragedy in Haiti this past week, I think we all understand better how very blessed we are daily and we should all review what we do for others for absolutely nothing in return. Charity involvement, volunteer work, helping others in need, having a giving heart…whatever it may be, please get involved somewhere. My mother volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House (after she retired) for 15 years and my dad, a veteran, volunteered (pushing other veterans to appointments in wheelchairs) at the Veteran’s Hospital for as long as he could until his health started failing. What great examples were set before me:-)

This week, determine to do something to help your fellow man. Until next week–

Bev

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