WILMINGTON, NC, August 1, 2013 – HeartsApart.org, the organization that keeps families connected while military men and women are serving abroad, is providing the first of its kind, large-scale photo session event for an entire squadron of soldiers and their families. The HeartsApart.org “PhotoFest” allows for up to 100 families to enjoy professional photography sessions over two days at no cost. PhotoFest will be held at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC on August 17 – 18, 2013.
HeartsApart.org provides soon-to-be deployed servicemen and women with pictures of their spouses and children by local professional photographers. The photographs are printed on waterproof, bi-folded cards which fit securely in a soldier’s uniform pocket. The one-hour photo sessions include a digital copy of the photographs and the folded prints all at no cost to the families.
United States Air Force servicemen and women stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (SJAFB) are eligible to participate in the photography sessions. SJAFB is home to the 4th Fighter Wing, one of the Air Force’s most distinguished fighter wings. Many service members stationed here have faced multiple deployments sacrificing time away from their families.
“We are thrilled to facilitate this event for a deploying group of Air Force servicemen and women. It is the first time we’ve been able to have the volunteers and funding required to provide services to so many deserving families in such a large-scale and exciting way,” says Executive Director Brett Martin. “Our goal is simple. As long as servicemen and women are in harms way and separated from their families, we will be taking pictures to help them stay connected.”
The event gathers eight, volunteer professional photographers and several assistants from across the east coast. The photography team has been selected and will be led by the renowned Brownie Harris, director of photography for HeartsApart.org. Harris is famous for photographing celebrities such as John F. Kennedy Jr., Miles Davis, Andy Warhol and Paul Newman, to name a few. He has also served as principle photographer on acclaimed television shows, including Revolution (NBC) and Under the Dome (CBS).
PhotoFest is entirely funded by sponsors and donors and staffed completely by volunteers. Currently, the organization has funding for up to 72 families to participate and hopes to achieve additional sponsorships to reach their 100-family capacity for the weekend event.
Families based at Seymour Johnson Air Force base who may be facing deployment are invited to register for a photo session prior to the event at http://www.heartsapart.org/events/SeymourJohnson/. The event is first-come, first-serve.
Sponsors for the event include Castle Branch, Once Upon a Child, Belk of Goldsboro, Zaxby’s of Goldsboro, Seegars Fence Company, Wilber’s Barbecue, Hinnant Family Dentistry, Dream Makers, Karen’s Custom Frames, Southeastern Camera, Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn. Any businesses or individuals that wish to assist in sponsoring this event or the ongoing efforts of HeartsApart.org should visit HeartsApart.org or call 910-256-2413.
HeartsApart.org was founded in North Carolina in 2010 to connect military families during deployment by providing professional family photographs at no cost. Today, the organization has volunteer photographers in 41 states. The White House selected HeartsApart.org as one of 20 finalists for First Lady Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces Community Challenge in March 2012. The challenge was developed to recognize organizations that provide services to local military families. HeartsApart.org was recognized at a reception hosted by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden in Washington, D.C. Families of soon-to-be deployed Armed Forces nationwide are invited to visit www.HeartsApart.org to schedule their family portraits.
