Posts tagged Giving Back
#GivingTuesday - Jennifer Gowers

I think she might be the hardest working person in the entire event industry.  She (and her team, as she will quickly point out) manage multiple venues while being a huge advocate of Birmingham.  It is not uncommon for Jennifer Gowers of GoPro Event Solutions to go home at 2 in the early morning and be back at it by 6:00 a.m. 

In between all of that, Jennifer is constantly volunteering her services for a wide range of missions.  From finding homes for dogs (including serving with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society) to helping with the homeless in Birmingham (working with the Jimmie Hale Mission and countless others), she works tirelessly 7 days a week.  

She is the current board chair for Pathways, which is a Birmingham organization that serves homeless woman and children. Not only do the people at Pathways give these women a place to live, but also teach them life skills so they can transition into other housing. It really is a one of a kind organization.  

Remember how the purpose of this blog series was about #GivingTuesday being #GivingEveryday?  Well, she is a wonderful example of that.  Hats off to you, lady!

Main Street Productions will become Cinepear in January 2016.

 

angela deaver#GivingTuesday, #GivingEveryday, Giving Tuesday, Giving Back, Main Street Productions, mainstreetav, Cinepear, GoPro Events, Jennifer Gowers, Jimmie Hale Mission, Greater Birmingham Humane Society, PathwaysComment
#GivingTuesday - Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
#GivingTuesday - Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

(#GivingTuesday is part of a weekly series of blog posts highlight Birmingham wedding vendors that use their time and talents to serve others. Those that go over and beyond so that #GivingTuesday becomes #GivingEveryday.)

"My Child Existed"

There are many photographers, nationwide, that volunteer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. NILMDTS offers "the gift of remembrance" to parents who have just recently lost their newborn baby.  The photographers are contacted by the hospital so that they can serve a family in the most difficult time. 

In the Birmingham area, we have (at least) two photographers that give so selflessly of themselves that they have been volunteering with NILMDTS for 7 years.  Butch and Joy Oglesby (Blue Moon Studios), not only are fantastic wedding photographers, but they also make beautiful images of recently passed infants so that the parents can have priceless professional pictures of their baby forever - pictures without tubes or wires or anything like that - just pictures of the parents loving their baby.    

"It is a hard thing to do sometimes, but always rewarding because we can give the family something to remember their child. One mother told me it says "my child existed."  We were photographing an event downtown and a young woman approached us and said "you don't remember me but, you photographed by child that passed away two years ago, and as she cried she told us how much the photos we took meant to her and her family......that makes it worthwhile." - Joy Oglesby

NOTE: Butch and Joy will be hosting Artists on the Bluff from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon TODAY!!!!! Go check out what they have plus the other artists in the old Bluff Park Elementary School.

Main Street Productions will become Cinepear in January 2016.

angela deaverNILMDTS, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, mainstreetav, Main Street Productions, Cinepear, Blue Moon Studios, Infant photography, selfless, Giving Back, Giving Tuesday, #GivingTuesday, #SpreadKindness, #ShareKindness, #GivingEverydayComment
#GivingTuesday - Compassion International

I was so excited to start this blog series highlighting Birmingham wedding professionals that I have found with these amazing, giving hearts. I want to surround myself with them.  I’ve loved researching and talking about their passions.  Each #GivingTuesday, I can’t wait to be able to post what I have found.  You guys all know, that I want everyday to be a “giving day” - why does it just have to be once a year.  You can read my previous post for that rant.  But for now….

Meet Allison Lewis. I want to be her BFF.  She is the kind of person that everyone wants to be around.  She makes you feel good about yourself.  And she is changing the world for the better.  Since 2012, every wedding client that has hired Allison Lewis Photography has actually had a portion of their fee donated to Compassion International on their behalf, specifically, the women and children of Sadamo Genet, Ethiopia. You should read her blog post about the two trips she and her husband, Josh, took during the adoption of their son, Micah.  Extraordinary.  But get this. To date, over $15,000 has been donated.   Wowzeers!!!!!  $15,000!!!! She tells me, "I love that my clients help serve in such an incredible and tangible way!!!!"

This week, Allison and her family will be welcoming a new addition to the Lewis clan.  Boy or girl, they don’t know. They don't know any details.  They just love the child and can’t wait for the birth mom to go into labor. As you would expect, there is a sweet story associated with this adoption, so be on the lookout for it in the coming weeks.  I’m sure it will be accompanied with a TON of pictures!  #SpreadKindness people. We are all capable, sometimes we (me too) just need to be reminded.  I love this family, especially their hearts. 

angela deaverCompassion International, Allison Lewis Photography, Giving Back, Giving Tuesday, #GivingTuesday, #SpreadKindness, #ShareKindnessComment