
Linda is currently working with Chevrolet to introduce "Pictures of Hope" to children living in shelters in San Antonio, Austin, Albuquerque, Tucson, San Diego, San Jose, Medford, Memphis, Orlando, Ft. Myers, Grand Rapids and Pontiac. The childrens' cards are ready for purchase and listed by city below.
In 2011, Linda partnered with Chevrolet to provide children in ten cities her award-winning "Pictures of Hope" program. The children expressing their "hopes and dreams" with a camera live in homeless shelters or are in at-risk situations. Through photography children share their heartfelt feelings.
"Their hopes and dreams captured in quiet moments tell a story that few adults can imagine. When you show children that you care about what they wish for in life, perhaps a child who never felt he or she had self worth, now will.", says Linda Solomon.
Holiday greeting cards with the children's heartfelt photos of "hope" will be available at Thanksgiving. Thanks to the generosity of Chevrolet and it's dealers, 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the shelters and facilities in each city.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, select Chevy dealers across the US will be giving Pictures of Hope cards to every person who buys a new Chevrolet. In addition, all participating dealers will also be making matching donations to one of the 10 charities.
As part of "Pictures of Hope", Linda Solomon provided a photo tutorial at each of the ten locations. At the conclusion of the tutorial, the children were surprised with cameras and given their first photo assignment as young photojournalists: capture their "hopes and dreams" on film. The children in all ten cities are ages 6-13 and will celebrate their "Pictures of Hope" at Meet The Young Artist Receptions during November and December.
Holiday Cards from all 12 Pictures of Hope cities are now available. Each city has a set of 15 cards, with a sample card from each below. Contact the organization listed below the card to order your set!
Order this set online at: LighthouseOakland.org or by phone at (248) 972-1493.
Order this set online at: OurFamilyServices.org or by phone at (520) 323-1708.
Order this set online at: FoundationHomeless.org or by phone at (512) 453-6570.
Order this set online at: SalvationArmyLeeCounty.org or by phone at (239) 278-1551.
Order this set online at: AgapeMeansLove.org or by phone at (901) 323-3600.
Order this set online at: SanDiego.SalvationArmy.org or by phone at (619) 231-6000.
Order this set online at: CentralFloridaHomeless.org or by phone at (407) 426-1265.
Order this set online at: BarrettFoundation.org or by phone at (505) 246-9244 x103.
Order this set online at: FamilyPromiseGR.org or by phone at (616) 475-5220.
Previously, CBS Evening News documented Pictures of Hope in Tucson. The children have created greeting cards with their photos and heartfelt words and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit The Christina Green Memorial Fund.
» Ashleigh Burroughs' blog: Linda Solomon, A Genuine Hero
» Ashleigh Burroughs' blog: About the Pictures of Hope cards!
Pictures of Hope and the children Linda have inspired have been featured twice on CBS Evening News, twice on ABC World News, Oprah, NBC Nightly News and on local affiliates throughout the US. Pictures of Hope will allow children to create Holiday cards with their images of hope and beautiful words.
During the 90's, Linda created the ground-breaking "It's A SNAP" children's photography program for Kmart/Kodak, donating over one million cameras to children. Every Kmart in the country adopted a school and Linda's photography program was featured in each school, over 250,000 cameras were donated per year. And for the first time exhibitions were featured in Kmart stores, each child had a photo on display (a Solomon idea). "This builds a child's self-esteem", remarked Linda, and that is the reason Kmart and Kodak sponsored Linda's program and provided camera's to over 1 million children.
Linda Solomon has also been a corporate spokesperson and founder of children's branding platforms for Kodak, Eckerd, Kmart, The Taubman Company, General Motors and Saturn. She has devoted her career to teaching her love of photography and journalism. Linda attended The University of Arizona and has a home in Tucson.
Previously, her "My Holiday Wish" program, for children in Orlando, Florida and Raleigh, North Carolina homeless shelters, gained national acclaim. Photographs taken by these children were transformed into greeting cards sold through the Salvation Army in both cities, with 100 percent of the proceeds directly benefiting women and children in city homeless shelters.