May 2008 Archives

PPA Charities would like to thank the following individuals and groups that have so generously supported us with their time, talent, and treasure during 2008!

• PPA's Photographic Exhibitions Committee (PEC): For every entry into the International Print Competition (run by PEC), participants are offered the opportunity to donate to PPA Charities. All proceeds go to the charitable fund. Thank you to all participants who donated to PPA Charities. The Charity received over $1,400 from this year's contestants!
• Marathon Press, the PPA Board and PPA Staff: Without their support, Family Portrait Month could not have been such a success for PPA Charities.
• Terry Farmer; Springfield, IL: For your outstanding success with the Family Portrait Month promotion. Congratulations on winning the Operation Smile Grand Prize mission trip to Bolivia. Look for Terry's article in our newsletter and at the Marathon Press webinar archives.
• To our top donors during Family Portrait Month:
  • Diamond Donors gave $5000 or more
  • Terrence Farmer - IL, Angela & Matt Weedon - TX, Doug Peninger & Rick Gibbons - NC
  • Gold Donors gave $1000 - $4999
  • Kathleen Walker - CA,Charlene McKay - CA, Wendy Newman - AZ, Heather Bush - LA
  • Chris & Dawndy Bendet - MO, Sam Puc - CO, Steele Images Studio - CO, Jenny Schomaker - AZ
  • Silver Donors gave $500 - $999
  • Studio 441 - NC, Ed Pedi - MA, Kirk Baxley - GA, ultra-spective photography - CA, Bruce Boutet - MI, Jason Gallus - MN, Anne Grant - NC, Stacey Burke - PA,
  • Karen Bernard - RI, Susan McKinney - TX, Corri Robinson - TX, Jamie Hayes & Mary Fisk-Taylor - VA, Renee Dabill - MN, Brandon Mulnix - MI
• To the nearly 400 PPA studios who participated in Family Portrait Month 2007 and helped us donate $52,000 to Operation Smile.
• Judy Grann and the gang at Successware for their sponsorship of the 2008 Celebration Event in honor of their 100 best clients.
• PPA's vendors and members who donated items to our 2008 Auction:
  • From PPA and the PPAAffiliateSchools
    • The Illinois Workshops Full Scholarship with Meals and Hotel
    • NEIPP Scholarship for Tuition up to $500
    • Scholarship and Board to the Texas School
    • Full Tuition to the 2009 Bahamas School
    • Full Scholarship and Meals to the Triangle Institute
    • PPA Membership Dues
    • Imaging USA 2009 Registration
    • Reserved Seats at the 2008 Canon All Convention Party
    • Reserved Seats at the Howard Schatz IUSA Super Program
    • Reserved Seats at the Kodak Post Awards Ceremony Party
  • Marketing/Photography Instruction from Photographic Instructors
    • Sarah Petty's Meaty Marketing Audio CDs
    • ProTechniques DVDs from Eddie Tapp
    • DVDs on Lighting and Copyright from Jack Reznicki
    • A Seat in Helen Yancy's In Studio Class and her DVDs
    • A Three Day Seminar with Doug Box
    • Carl Caylor's Secrets of Natural Light DVD
    • A spot in Jeff & Julia Woods' EXPOSED Workshops
    • V Gallery Evolution from Jed & Vicki Taufer
    • Ron Nichols Retouching Palettes
    • The "I Want it All" basket from Tim & Bev Walden
    • Sam Puc' offers her Marketing Packet
    • Digital Wake Up Tour DVD from David Ziser
    • Art of Photography Marketing Kit from Hayes & Fisk
    • The Senior Collection DVD from Mary Mannix
    • Lori Nordstrom's Designer Collection Templates
    • Registration to Light Pro 2008
    • CD Marketing/Promotion set from Rick Avalos
    • Gavin's Creative PhotoShop Actions & Tutorials
    • Pro4uM Membership from Kirk Voclain
    • A Day with Dennis and Lori Craft at their Bear Creek Studio
    • BootCamp In-A-Box from Mitche Graff
    • Ralph Romaguera's DVD Set
  • From Our Exhibitors and Vendor Friends
    • Hundreds of rolls of film from Eastman Kodak
    • Larson Enterprises Gift Certificates
    • ProSelect Production Software
    • Production Music
    • Dahle Paper Trimmers
    • Gina Alexander Janie/Photo Handbag
    • Tamrac Aero Photo & Adventure 9 Backpacks
    • Simply Canvas Gift Certificate for Canvas Prints
    • Rice Photo Supply Shopper Bags with Logo
    • Gift Certificates from White House Custom Color
    • Tamron's SP AF90mm, f2.8 1:1 Macro Di Lens
    • Tamrac's Velocity 8x Sling Pack
    • Optio 60 Digital Camera from Pentax
    • A Basket of DVD/CD Folios from Neil Enterprises
    • Designer Website Template, Setup & Hosting from Tafota Marketing
    • Collages.net 10x10 Premium Leather Album, 7x7 Book & Cards
    • One Year lease from SuccessWare
    • NIK Software Pro Suite
    • GW Moulding frame and Gift Certificate
    • OnOne Software set of Actions & Tutorials
    • 10x20 Scenic Muslin from Backgrounds by David Maheu
    • Tenba Roadie Case from MAC Group
  • Other Fun Items
    • A Photopoly Game, A Fly Rod, Autographed Photo of Antoine Winfield, Howard Schatz' hand-signed H2O Coffee Table Book, One Night Stay at the Marriott, Lunch with PPA President Jack Reznicki & CEO David Trust, a Family Pack from the Florida Aquarium, A Week at Deep Creek - featuring the Workshop Facility of Jim & Ann Monteith, Autographed Photo of Arnold Palmer, a Gift Basket from Lisa Jane Murphy, Harmon Killebrew Autographed Baseball, John Woodward's "Contemplating the Temple", and a collector archival print from Joyce Tenneson - "Suzanne in Contortion".
• White House Custom Colour's Mike Hanline for his annual sponsorship of PPA Charities.
• To heroes like David Grupa (TCPPA) and Don Dickson (Texas School) who raised over $10,000 by getting their heads shaved to raise funds for PPA Charities.
• The Twin Cities (MN) PPA for their continuing support as an affiliate who raised over $11,000 for PPA Charities in various events.
• To friends of Harvey Goldstein (60th Birthday) and our beloved Buddy "Keep Grinnin" Stewart (sympathy) who donated in their honor.
• Our friends at ASP who included PPA Charities in their annual art auction.
• Ralph Romaguera, Kodak and many of the 2008 PPA Degree recipients who raised over $2000 from degree photograph donations.
• Carol Andrews who challenged her audience at her program at the PPA Marketing Conference to make a difference in a child's life and ended up raising almost $500 in 5 minutes!

PPA Charities hosts a "Celebration" event Saturday evening before PPA's Imaging USA (the national convention in January) officially begins. The celebration event will take place at Alice Coopers Town in Phoenix, just two blocks from Convention Center and features fun, fellowship, and food. The evening kicks off with a VIP Cocktail Hour from 8-9pm. VIP Cocktail Hour tickets are only $35 and include hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. The doors open to all convention attendees at 9pm, and the fun continues with the live/silent auction, the check presentation to Operation Smile, and music and dancing.

Mark your calendar now to attend the PPA Charities' Celebration on January 10, 2009, in Phoenix. Order your tickets when you register for Imaging USA or call 800-786-6277.

Who runs PPA Charities?
Do any PPA dues go towards the funding of PPA  Charities?
How did PPA Charities get started and how are my  donations used?
Are donations tax deductible?
How do I make a donation to help PPA Charities?

Who runs PPA Charities?
PPA Charities is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit Georgia corporation. The day-to-day  operations of the organization are handled by one paid staff member. The  governing board of the Charity is made up of nine (9) volunteer trustees  elected by the PPA Board of Directors. The current PPA President appoints  appropriate PPA Board Liaison(s), and the CFO of PPA serves as the treasurer.  The Trustees are led by a President and Vice President/Secretary. PPA provides  staff support for record-keeping, marketing, and legal advice.

Do any PPA dues go towards the funding of PPA  Charities?
No. PPA's only current financial commitment is in the form of staff support to  handle record-keeping, aid in marketing/communications and assist the PPA  Charities Board in securing information in planning our conference-related  events. Also, PPA's current President appoints PPA Board Liaison(s), and the  Chief Financial Officer of PPA sits on the Board of Trustees of PPA Charities.  This helps to ensure two-way communication between the two groups.

How did PPA Charities get started and how are my  donations used?
PPA Charities was the brain child of Bert Behnke, past PPA president, and his  board of directors. Charities was formed in 1997, and by the end of 1999, the  foundation had raised over $110,000. A matching donation from Burrell  Professional Labs of $40,000 brought the perpetual fund total to $150,000. In  January of 2000, the first donation from PPA Charities was presented to the  Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in the amount of $10,000.

The goal of PPA Charities is to increase the capital fund to  $500,000. This would allow the Charity to make substantial contributions to  worthy children's charities each year. All donations are added to the perpetual  fund until this goal has been reached. Once the fund is fully established, the  charity will have longevity and stability without soliciting the same people  year after year. Once we reach our goal, future special events will allow us  even greater opportunities to support needy children.

In January 2005 during our kick-off event at Emeril's New  Orleans, PPA Charities presented a check to Operation Smile (our charitable  partner for four years) in the amount of $10,000. In 2008, PPA Charities  reached the record of donating $52,000. This brought the total to almost $115,000, which accounts for almost 500 children obtaining life-changing  surgery thanks to PPA members!

Are donations tax deductible?
Yes. As PPA Charities is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit group, all contributions  are deductible according to the laws of your specific state. You should consult  with your accountant for an exact answer.

How do I make a donation to help PPA Charities?
Remember, you can make a donation to PPA Charities at any time for any reason…out of the kindness of your heart  or in honor or memory of a friend, colleague, or family member. You can also  support PPA Charities by attending our special events during Imaging USA. Many  affiliates have hosted events to benefit PPA Charities as well. A very special  way to support PPA Charities is to recognize the accomplishments of friends and  family members who receive PPA degrees and awards with a donation.