NASHVILLE, Tenn. – September 20, 2012 – Help-Portrait, the non-profit formed to give back through photos, and Groupon’s Grassroots, the philanthropic arm of Groupon, announce the launch of a local campaign to allow the community to purchase an offer to give someone in need a portrait on December 8th of this year. This Help-Portrait campaign will be available on the Groupon Grassroots page beginning Thursday, September 20 and running through Wednesday, September 26.
On the second Saturday each December, photographers around the world gather for the annual Help-Portrait event. The organization was founded in 2009 as an idea that transformed into a movement in just three months. The idea behind Help-Portrait is simple: 1. Find someone in need 2. Take their portrait 3. Print their portrait and 4. Deliver their portrait. In the last three years, 15,000 photographers and 21,000 volunteers have given more than 169,000 portraits. Help-Portrait is now a global movement in more than 1,500 locations in 56 countries.
Due to the overwhelming response of portraits taken each year, this Groupon Grassroots campaign will allow more photos given this year in each community. Utilizing Grassroots’ collective action model, Groupon followers can pledge support for Help-Portrait by purchasing the offer to donate $10 to help a person or family in need have a portrait made and receive three copies of the picture and a frame. Every dollar raised goes to fund a local event where it is donated. This is a U.S. only campaign. Everyone is welcome to donate, but the funds will stay in the U.S.
To help increase the impact of this powerful campaign, Help-Portrait has also partnered with Wacom as a corporate matching sponsor. Wacom will be matching every $10 gift. With Wacom matching each offer, double the portraits will be given this year through this campaign.
“At Wacom, we create products that help photographers to get the most out of every image,” shares Don Varga, Director of Product Marketing, Wacom Technology Services Corporation. “We are excited to support Help-Portrait in their mission to give back to the community through the gift of professional photography. We look forward to working with the Help-Portrait photographers on this great cause of bringing hope and joy into people’s lives.”
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ABOUT HELP-PORTRAIT:
Celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart formed Help-Portrait, a non-profit organization, in 2009 as he contemplated using his skills and expertise to give back to those who may not have the opportunity for a professional photo. The idea is that a photographer has the unique ability to help someone smile, laugh and return their dignity. It is a movement, a shift in photography. The rapid growth of this organization is a perfect example of Social Media use for good as the community shares ideas and stories through the channels of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogging. Help-Portrait has partnered in the past with corporations including Ritz & Wolf Camera & Image, creativeLIVE, Chick-fil-A and Flosites, which created Help-Portrait’s website and online community.
From Bangalore, India to Ghana, Africa, the language of Help-Portrait crosses cultural and socio-economic barriers. Even Hollywood has gotten in the act as A-list actors Zachary Levi and Yvette Nicole Brown volunteered at a Help-Portrait event in Los Angeles. http://helpportrait.wpengine.com
ABOUT JEREMY COWART:
Cowart began full-time photography in 2005 and has traveled to six continents with his talent. He’s photographed Imogen Heap, Sting, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood and more. He’s also worked with entertainment clients ABC, E!, Fox, A&E, FX, The Style Network, CMT and others. http://www.jeremycowart.com
ABOUT GROUPON GRASSROOTS:
Groupon Grassroots, launched in July 2010 in Chicago as G-Team, features local campaigns nationwide, enabling Groupon followers to do good, have fun, and make a real impact in their communities. Groupon Grassroots uses collective action to gather support for worthwhile causes and produce tangible results for local organizations. To learn more about Groupon Grassroots and how to become a featured organization, visit http://grassroots.groupon.com. To subscribe to Groupon, visit http://www.groupon.com.
Press Contacts:
Help-Portrait Contact
Lori Mahon, Merge PR
615.579.1266
lori@help-portrait.com
Groupon Contact
Erin Yeager
312.999.3434
eyeager@groupon.com
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