The Olivia Act

On December 14th, 2012, a day that will forever stay in our hearts, 26 people lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  20 children and 6 kids were lost in one of our nation’s worst school shootings.  Everyone watched the news and was hurt by what they were seeing and hearing.  Many of us made this tragedy a political statement, a talking point for their views on gun control & child safety.  Others (like myself) took this tragedy and decided not to argue or fight, but to try and challenge myself to help others.  To find a way to give back to the community.   Maybe not the Sandy Hook Elementary community, but my local community in honor of all the people that were lost that day.

The Olivia Act was created by an anonymous photographer.  She has been challenging photographers across the world to donate a free session (either a mini- or full-session) to a local family who normally would not be able to afford one.  Every photographer who accepts this challenge is asked to do so in honor of Olivia Engel, one of the fallen children that day.

Well I have accepted this challenge.  I would love to give away a free session to a local family.

 This session will include:

-a 1 hour on-location session

-a password protected online proofing gallery

- 20 final fully edited images on a CD

Now I need your help.  If you know of a family that would love family pictures but cannot afford them please send me an e-mail and nominate them.  All nominations will be secret.  I will not share any of the story or any of their information.  I will only share the magical images we take the day of their session.  I will be taking nominations until January 31st, 2013.

Please send all nominations to AllisonBolsegaPhotography@gmail.com

with the subject: The Olivia Act Nomination

In your e-mail please include the following:

Your name & contact information

The name of the family you are nominating & all the members (with ages of kids)

The nominated family’s contact information (e-mail &/or phone number)

And last but not least, their story.  Please tell me why you think they deserve this free session.

I hope to be able to do many of these free sessions for deserving families this year.  But I can’t do that without my wonderful clients.  Thank you to all the wonderful people who choose me to be their photographer.  Without you I would not be able to donate such a beautiful gift.

You never know when tomorrow’s not going to come.  We have to capture our memories today so our kids & family can remember forever.

If you aren’t local (Gaithersburg, Maryland or Orlando, Florida) but would like to become an Olivia Act photographer or find a photographer who is participating, please follow the links below.

The Olivia Act Facebook Page

The Olivia Act Website

The act of giving

On the morning of December 19th, one of the moms (Charity)  from my local MOMS club sent out an e-mail to the group. In Charity’s e-mail she talked about a young single mother to two wonderful kids ( ages 3 & 10 months )  whom she had been visiting with since August.

  The e-mail went on to talk about how this young mom ( Shante ) had lost her job recently.  Since losing her job she has not been able to find a new one.  She has been taking all the necessary steps to get a new job, but has not had any luck in actually getting one to support her family.  Because she wasn’t able to get a new job she wasn’t able to give her daughter (3) anything for her birthday (December 23rd).  In addition she was upset because she knew her kids would wake up Christmas morning and have no presents to open.

Having no Christmas for her kids wasn’t even the worst of her fears.  Charity went on to explain to everyone that Shante wasn’t able to pay her rent in December and was going to be evicted come January if she didn’t get a job soon.  With no family around to help this single mom she was looking at being homeless with her two young kids. Charity asked all of us moms to help give these kids a Christmas they wouldn’t forget.  She sent the MOMS club members an e-mail and posted on her Facebook account about this wonderful single mom that needed help.

What happened next was truely amazing.

A lot of the moms from our club donated toys and household items.  I posted on my Facebook Business page about this young mother, and started getting donations right away.  People who I haven’t met sent money.  People Charity hasn’t talked to in ages sent money, supplies and gift cards.  One person contacted Charity asking how much Shante was short on her rent and proceeded to donate the whole amount!!

On December 24th Charity and her family, as well as her church pastor and a few friends went to Shante’s apartment to delever everything that had been donated.

We donated toys, jackets, clothes, household items as well as over $200 in gift cards.

In addition Charity was able to collect $2,630 cash!!!!!

How amazing is that?? In less than a week she raised enough money for this family to stay in their home for a few more months without having to worry.

Since the drop off Charity is still receiving e-mails and letters from people who would like to help out.  Charity & myself are still excepting any and all donations for this family.  If you have a gift card you won’t use, $5 extra dollars this month or a job Shante maybe able to fill, Please let us know!!!

Here are some pictures from morning we delevered everything to Shante.

Everyone waiting for Shante and her kids to come downstairs.

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Listening to everyone singing Christmas carols and looking and the stack of presents.

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Everyone singing more Christmas Carols.

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Charity telling her how much was money was raised in addition to all the gifts.

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Everyone who came out that morning.

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A summary of the morning.

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Thank you to everyone who donate and continue to donate.