In the News

Family Portrait Month Raises $52,000 for Operation Smile
At the January 2008 PPA Charities Celebration (at Imaging USA in Tampa), PPA Charities (PPACH) President Mary Fisk-Taylor announced that in 2007, PPA-member studios across the U.S. raised $52,000 to benefit Operation Smile, PPACH’s charitable partner. This donation broke the 2007 donation record by $12,000.

Most of the donations came through PPACH’s October 2007 Family Portrait Month studio promotion. This annual cause-related marketing effort reminds parents that October is the perfect time to purchase family portraits for home décor, gift-giving, and holiday cards. This reminder is strengthened as the parents learn they can receive the images while also benefiting Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity whose thousands of volunteer healthcare professionals treat children and young adults suffering with facial deformities.

Participating photographers made smiles possible for many deserving individuals by donating a portion of their Family Portrait Month sales and other contributions to Operation Smile via PPA Charities. The October promotion also attracted additional studio sessions and created positive public awareness for the participating businesses.