We have seven days left to reach our goal of $10,000 to be donated to the Charity Water campaign.
If you don’t know what I am talking about, you can read this.
If you are entirely sick of hearing about this, just give me one more week.
In just one more week, you and me will have given them ………..
photo copyright Becky Straw.
A few months ago, my entire family was moved by this video to join the cause and give up our birthdays in exchange for clean water.
We asked everyone we knew to donate what they would have spent on gifts for us, on our campaign instead. With the kindness and generosity of so many of you, we have raised just over $4600. I truly thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Seeing my friends names pop in, seeing complete strangers names, seeing those anonymous $1…every time a donation came in, my eyes would well up with tears. I was completely moved from head to toe. Thank you. THANK YOU.
Well, guess what?
In order to say thank you, and to reach our goal of $10,000, I am sweetening the pot. I am giving back. I am SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!
I am offering one complimentary photo shoot ALONG WITH the digital files from your session to one person who has donated.
That could be you! (Don’t you want it to be you?) I do!
Rules and Eligibility:
1. The shoot must take place in the Southern California area in March 2010. Any location, up to an hour away from Orange County is an option.*
*This means that even if you live out of state, if you can get your family here, you are eligible to win.
2. The shoot is for one family/couple/individual – no large family groups or events.
3. Proof of your donation to Charity: Water necessary
4. Donation of $10.00 or more
5. You can enter more than once, and you can also enter for other people!
So, whether you live here in SoCal or not, if you can get your family here in March 2010, and have donated at least $10, you are eligible to win.
To enter:
1. Make sure you can be in SoCal in March 2010 for the shoot.
2. Donate $10 or more here, preferably using the same name/email that you use to comment here.(If you have already donated, that counts too!)
3. Leave a comment on this blog post.
Winner will be drawn the first week of December.
If your name is drawn, I will contact you to obtain the proof of your donation, and once I have that you will be announced the winner!
Thank you so much – happy donating – and good luck!
xo
Tara
You guys are great! I am so proud of you and your family. What a wonderful example you are to me. Count me in on contest. I want to win like a motha. Jennifer
Wonderful cause, hope you make your goal!
Such a wonderful cause–thank you for informing
This is a such an amazing way to use your gifts and an inspiring endeavor to lead your children in. Thanks for the chance to win a session too. Kendall
you continue to inspire me through your amazing work and generous heart. Thank you so much for the opportunity to help such a great cause and congrats to you for raising the money you have… I wanna be you when I grow up :)
I sent in my donation and and will be crossing my fingers to possibly meet you sometime in March!
Good luck Tara!
I’m so grateful to have read this post! What a wonderful blessing your family is to so many people- may this charity be a wild success! I’m grateful to have been able to contribute, even if in just a small way.
Best to the Whitneys!
Whitney family- thank you for drawing attention to this cause.
Your family is so inspiring. Such a wonderful project and is so exciting to help in a small way.
Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this. I love your story and that your children are so brave, selfless and just plain awesome to give up there birthdays. I am in MN, but I have a sister in Orange County. I WILL BE THERE if I win.
#1 you instill a beautiful lesson with not only your family, but other families out “there” #2 i am raising money for pablove for kids with cancer and you have inspired an idea for me to do the same… donate my time if people donate for pablove. #3 i don’t care of i win (even though i really want to), but i am happy to donate to an amazing cause. something so simple that it’s so overlooked…but ridiculously crucial on so many levels. #4 my husband and i eloped in january, then he was diagnosed with cancer (he’s not getting better) and i would be in heaven to have some beautiful photos of us taken. it would mean the world. #5 i can keep rambling on. i’m a rambler. #6 thank you for contributing your heart and soul and talent to such an amazing cause.
What a great thing you’re doing with the Charity Water Campaign! I have made my donation tonight. Thanks so much!
Kristen
I’m thankful I was able to contribute.
THANK you for shinning another brilliant light on this. You are a blessing to many. peace & love. ~heaven.
Thank you for making me aware of this great cause Tara. I am so thankful I was able to contribute. Much luck in reaching your goal!
Keep up the good work Whitneys! I’ve got a free voucher on Southwest and I would love to use it to visit SoCal …
I would love to win a photo shoot. We will gladly drive the 6 hours to spend an afternoon with you! Love, Love, Love your images! Melinda
I LOVE this!
I also appreciate your family doing this and that you are teaching your kids to think past themselves. My family is off to ring the bell for the Salvation Army today…hopefully we can spread the LOVE!
thanks for giving me a way to give back. you are awesome
you have inspired me for years… scrapbooking, photography and now charity work. Thank you!
we donated $10 for everyone in our family. so glad we could join your cause.
yay Whitney family! you are awesome.
can’t wait to see you reach your goal!
I made a small donation and would love a photo session with you!
i am going to link you because i want you to make your goal!!!
I donated! Great idea.
wow, i donated because that clip moved me to tears…. and now a possibility to have a photo shoot is amazing. thank you for sharing your talent with all of us through your blog and your work.
I donated. What a great cause
I read about this cause on the whatever blog a couple of weeks ago & had to donate. I think it’s wonderful! I am happy to try & help you reach your goal! Good luck!
Just donated to your well! I am a blog friend of Julie (Joy’s Hope) from Nor Cal and saw her tweet about this. I hope you reach your goal!!! And, so awesome you are doing a photo shoot giveaway!!!!
I donated! What a great idea, Tara!
Thanks so much for using your gift to inspire and help others.
Happy to donate. Thanks for inspiring us all to get involved. Think of how many people are going to drink lovely water!
I love this cause and would love to donate! And please add me to the drawing as I live in Los Angeles!
you are so close to your goal!!! good luck. i’d be in southern california in a heartbeat to have my family photographed by you :)
Accidentally donated twice but…it’s water. I have lived without it and I know how much better life is with it. I consider my “mistake” a blessing.
Thanks so much!
Thanks for letting us be a part. Donated and would love the excuse to visit CA.
So proud of your family. Of course I am in!!
Cheryl
Meg Duerkson from Whatever sent me here. Love your site and your mission. Of course I’m in:) I would love to come to LA in March! Pick me…Pick ME!!
I have been wanting to donate to this cause and I am so glad you gave me the opportunity to do it! Your offer to do a photo shoot for the winner is a wonderful bonus, as well. Its ridiculous that I am a photographer who does lots of family portrait sessions, and yet we don’t have one of our own family! Its so pathetic! The pics we have are taken by strangers who we have handed our camera to for a split second! I would be beyond THRILLED to have you photograph our little California family by you, the best California photographer out there!
Keeping my fingers crossed!!!! :)
Wow! Thanks for spreading this! I donated a few weeks ago and even blogged about it: http://amybrown.blogspot.com/2009/11/first-christmas-gift.html What a great cause! I cried when I first heard about it on this blog: http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com.
Thanks, Tara! You ROCK!!!!!
Amy
Donated!! I hope you reach your goal!!
I plan on doing this come my birthday in April, I found out about it thru another photogrpaher friend who is doing it for her birthday – I donated for her as well..
I’m only commenting here cause as a photographer my husbands biggest gripe is that he doesn’t have enough photos of he and I – and you rock pretty hard, I’d love to have you shoot us.
i donated when you first posted. but just wanted to thank you for your extreme generosity. this is awesome.
Good luck on reaching your goal! I just donated, and you’re so close!!
Your family’s commitment and your photography are so inspirational. Your generosity is amazing!
erin’s sister & fam here.. just donated,loved the video, you are really getting close!!! :)
Go Whitney Wells!! I think it’s just awesome that you are using your talent to give back. Good luck toward reaching 10,000!
This is such a great thing to do with your family! I am glad to be a part of something so wonderful.
I’m in! Hope you reach your goal!