The Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas is an organization that is committed to caring for and helping those in the community who have DS. They provide all sorts of cool programs and activities for the families participating, and they help build awareness for the community. I was introduced to the awesome work that these people do back in 2009 and started working with them immediately. I helped to photograph their calendar gala that Fall (called “Share the Passion”), and kept doing it in 2010 and 2011. Started in 2007, the calendar is one the main fund raising activities that the association uses. The calendar is created in the first half of the year or so for the following year, and unveiled at a Gala in the Fall with all the families involved as well as the community. The calendar is up for sale at the Gala, and the featured images are displayed around the Gala for everyone to see. The “models” from each month in the calendar are generally present at the gala and enjoying all the attention. All of those models are ferried in a limousine and give a “red carpet” treatment as they arrive at the Gala. It is great fun for the whole group and especially exciting for the models.
In 2012 I was selected as the photographer for the calendar itself, which is both an honor and a blessing to me. I don’t get to show any of my work until the Fall when the calendar is unveiled, but I am having fun and am enjoying working with the kids and celebrities. All of the people who allow themselves to be a part of this effort really are amazing individuals and their love and passion for others is just wonderful to see.
Some of my previous posts about the Gala are here: 2009, 2010, 2011. Also, you can see the full set of images we made at the Gala last year: 2011 Gala Images.
Elvis is My Hero