New P.H.O.T.O. Foundation Helps Photographers Hit by Hurricane Katrina
Rebuild
Joining the relief efforts following the
devastation left by of Hurricane Katrina, a group of professional photographers
have banded together and formed the P.H.O.T.O. Foundation (Photographic Industry
Helping Others To Overcome), which aims to help photographers whose businesses
were wiped out by the hurricane rebuild.
The creation of the foundation was inspired by the
story of Neil Hurd, a Metairie La. photographer who lost all of his photography
equipment, along with 27 years worth of files and portraits, to the hurricane.
Hearing of Hurd’s loss and similar reports from other photographers, his
friends at Zookbinders Inc., a Deerfield Ill. producer of custom albums, decided
to start an organization to help photographers affected by Katrina.
“Neil had just visited our facility a week
before the hurricane. I was trying to reach him to make sure he was okay when,
thank goodness, he was able to call us,” said Karyn Newman, the album
company’s key customer service representative, in a statement announcing
the foundation. “After I hung up I had to do something to help –
we’re like family.”
Over 40 photography organizations and manufacturers
have committed their resources to the foundation.
Anyone wishing to donate to the P.H.O.T.O Foundation
is asked to mail donations to: P.H.O.T.O Foundation, P.O. Box 611, Deerfield, Il
60015. To contribute equipment, services or other assistance contact Karyn
Newman at PHOTOReliefFund@zookbinders.com or Skip Cohen at
PHOTOReliefFund@wppionline.com.
Posted: Wed - September 7, 2005 at 11:52 AM