Saturn is sponsoring "Pictures of Hope," a photography project led by an award-winning photojournalist that gives children in transitional living programs the opportunity to take photos that reflect their hopes and dreams and are then featured in a set of greeting cards. In October, a number of Saturn retailers across the country will host reveal events where the children, along with their families, will see their photos for the very first time.

During the summer, Saturn and celebrity photojournalist and author Linda Solomon visited six transitional housing organizations that provide support services to women and children who have experienced dire circumstances that have impacted their living situations. Solomon conducted photography workshops at each location and the children learned photo composition and photography techniques. The children were then sent on an assignment with a single-use camera to capture photos of their hopes and dreams. Each child will have one of their photos featured on a Pictures of Hope greeting card.

The project provides financial help to each of the participating organizations. "The images the children captured in the Pictures of Hope program -- and the dreams they represent -- are truly inspirational," said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. "Saturn and our retailers chose to be a part of this program because the local community has always been extremely important to Saturn and our retailers. We think of this opportunity more as giving forward than giving back."

Saturn funded the program, which includes providing the finished greeting cards. Each of the participating organizations along with their local Saturn retailer will sell boxes of Pictures of Hope greeting cards with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the organizations where the photography workshops were held.

Sponsored by the Saturn Division of General Motors, the Pictures of Hope program is in its third year. The program has been featured prominently in People Magazine, USA Today, ABC World News Tonight and CBS Evening News. Last year, Solomon led workshops in The Salvation Army centers Atlanta, San Diego, Tucson, Dallas, Memphis and Detroit reaching more women, children and families in need.

This year, the program will visit six cities again, with a kickoff photo workshop held in August at SAMMinistries in San Antonio, Texas,  serving as the launching point. Shelters in Houston and Austin are also taking part. The remaining events will take place at Saturn retailers in Houston, Phoenix, Austin, San Antonio, and Philadelphia.

But capturing wishes on film is only one element of Pictures of Hope. Solomon will select 15 images taken by the local children on disposable cameras and transform them into greeting cards, to be unveiled this fall at select Saturn dealerships. The images will be paired with text reflecting each child's hope. All proceeds from the card sales, will benefit the shelters. Last year, the cards earned an estimated $50,000 for each participating shelter.

The Pictures of Hope project enables children to define their dreams and then communicate them through photography. "Now more than ever it is so important to show children in need that their hopes and dreams matter," said photojournalist Linda Solomon. "Through photography the children build self-esteem, reveal what is in their hearts, and express their hopes for a better life."

The first photo reveal event will take place at Kristi House in Miami, Florida, while the other five events will take place at the following Saturn retailers:
    * October 2 Saturn of Miami sponsors event at Kristi House in Miami, Florida.
    * October 6 Saturn of Southwest Freeway to benefit Star of Hope Mission in Houston, Texas.
    * October 10 Saturn of Scottsdale to benefit Homeward Bound in Phoenix, Arizona
    * October 22 Saturn of Austin to benefit Posada Esperanza in Austin, Texas
    * October 23 Saturn of San Antonio, Texas, to benefit SAMMinistries
    * October 27 Saturn of Philadelphia to benefit the Drueding Center/ Project Rainbow in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pictures of Hope -- Lead Photo Sidebar:
Maricela Becerra, 13, photographed these flip-flops at a store: They might be perfect for a teenager, but, according to an article at The Austin American Statesman,  when she snapped the picture, Maricela says she was remembering a homeless, barefoot woman she saw begging for money on a street corner.  "She could have used the flip-flops," says Maricela.

The girl and four other children at Posada Esperanza, an Austin shelter for single immigrant mothers and their children, spent a day this summer shooting pictures with disposable cameras with the intent of capturing their hopes and dreams on film. Maricela's photo not only linked shoes with someone who needed them, it said something about the girl. "I like to help people," she says.

Later this month, greeting cards ($20 for a 12-card box) will be available in the Austin area by calling the Posada Esperanza shelter at 512-928-8862. Operated by Casa Marianella,  Posada Esperanza is a transitional shelter for homeless, single immigrant mothers and their children.

AskPatty sincerely hopes that you'll stop by one of the Saturn dealership events or contact one of  the featured shelters to support this phenomenal program.



By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty Editor