The Twin Cities PPA once again showed their support for Operation Smile at the January IUSA Celebration event, with their presented a check for over $9,000 to Beth Marshall, director of Operation Smile's Southeast Region and Senior Executive Advisor for Latin America, third from right. Shown with Marshall is, from left, PPACH President Mary Fisk-Taylor, TCPPA President Taylor Hubbard, PPA Charities Honorary Trustee Rod Oman, PPACH Executive Director Bert Behnke, and PPACH Trustee David Grupa.

Nothing motivates people like a challenge. In October 2007, PPA Charities Trustee David Grupa and his good friend David Jones were presenting a program to the Twin Cities Professional Nothing motivates people like a challenge. In October 2007, PPA Charities Trustee David Grupa and his good friend David Jones were presenting a program to the Twin Cities Professional Photographers of America (TCPPA). After asking the audience to support PPA Charities, he blurted out this challenge: "If you can put $500 on the table before the end of the night, I will let you shave my head at the next meeting!"

Dave left the meeting with his hair intact, but TCPPA President Mark Kiefer called a few days later, asking "How serious were you about the offer to shave your head?" They chatted about ways to raise money and came up with an idea: Since there are no entry fees on the TCPPA level, members entering the November print competition were challenged to donate $25 per case to PPA Charities. At that rate, 30 cases would bring $750. If that goal was reached, Dave's previous offer would stand.

The TCPPA membership came through in a huge way, generously raising $2,200 in donations. The association itself added another $1,000 to the total and presented Dave Grupa with a check for $3,200 on the evening of the holiday party. To top it off, another $300 was generated the evening of the party by those who wanted their turn with the clippers!

At the conclusion of the evening, Dave left the event with a bald head, a huge smile, and over $3,500 raised for PPA Charities. But that was not the end of the story: An additional $1,300 came from private donations, including Rotary and monies that Dave and other member studios raised during the year.

At the 2008 PPA Charities Celebration at Imaging USA, Dave and TCPPA representatives Mark Kiefer and Amy Zellmer (shown with Dave at left) presented a $4,800 check to PPA Charities President Mary Fisk-Taylor and PPA Charities Executive Director Bert Behnke.
The TCPPA membership came through in a huge way, generously raising $2,200 in donations. The association itself added another $1,000 to the total and presented Dave Grupa with a check for $3,200 on the evening of the holiday party. To top it off, another $300 was generated the evening of the party by those who wanted their turn with the clippers!

At the conclusion of the evening, Dave left the event with a bald head, a huge smile, and over $3,500 raised for PPA Charities. But that was not the end of the story: An additional $1,300 came from private donations, including Rotary and monies that Dave and other member studios raised during the year.

At the 2008 PPA Charities Celebration at Imaging USA, Dave and TCPPA representatives Mark Kiefer and Amy Zellmer (shown with Dave at left) presented a $4,800 check to PPA Charities President Mary Fisk-Taylor and PPA