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Whether you are an old hand at charitable marketing or want to get started but don't know how, now's your chance! PPA Charities, in association with Marathon Press, offers the perfect opportunity to gain new clients and repeat business through a brand-new charitable marketing event. As a PPA member, you can participate in "Celebration of Smiles," set for April 21, 2012. (Or choose another day that works for you.)

What It Is
Participating photographers will host an event where clients donate a minimum of $24 for a portrait mini session and desk-sized portrait, and 100% of donations go to support Operation Smile. This worldwide children's medical charity (focusing on facial deformities) can perform a surgery for as little as $240. So, for every 10 sessions a studio photographs during this Celebration of Smiles event, one child will receive the life-changing gift of surgery.

Think how many smiles you could help save by joining in this one-day event! Think how your name recognition and repeat business could grow! (Plus, you might even win the opportunity to document an Operation Smile Mission!)

Get Involved
Register with only a $25 PPA Charities donation, and you'll receive . . .

• The Celebration of Smiles Marketing Guide that takes you step-by-step through how to market, prepare for and execute your promotion. (You'll also get predesigned promotional elements and materials for marketing to your clients and prospects.)
• Your studio name and website link on the Celebration of Smiles consumer website.
• Weekly "timeline" emails, so you'll stay on track with marketing and operating your promotion.

Learn more and register at ppacharities.com.

Not a PPA member, but want to take part in the Celebration of Smiles? It's easy to join: ppa.com/joinppa.

For more information contact:
Bert Behnke
20600 S. Old Wolf Road
Mokena, IL 60448
(708) 267-0657
bbehnke@ppa.com

PPA Charities is hosting their annual PPA Charities Celebration at Imaging USA (January 14 at 8:00pm), and their auction this year includes some pretty amazing items. Personal one-on-one education from industry leaders. Educational retreats to Texas School (even to sold-out classes) and beyond. Breathtaking art pieces. A seven-day dream vacation to Cabo San Jose, Mexico. Sounds pretty amazing, right?

These "Spotlight Packages" range from $1,200 - $6,000 in value, and for the first time ever, you can start bidding early! Jump online, browse the choices, determine which ones speak to you most, and bid to make it yours (and help PPA Charities and Operation Smile, to boot).  See the list and learn how the pre-bidding process works here.

Ready to help a child smile? It's easier than ever with PPA Charities' Double Smiles Month for Operation Smile. Now your $240 donation will save TWO smiles, not just one!

A small group has issued a challenge to all PPA members to help raise $25,000 by the end of 2011. This "PPACH Leadership Circle" pledges to match, dollar for dollar, all PPA member contributions up to a total of $25,000! Plus, that $240 donation earns you the title of PPA Charities Operation Smile Studio (and all the resources that come with it). Learn more about this charity, the challenge and how you can help: www.PPAcharities.com 

Many photographers helped PPA Charities commemorate 11.11.11 (also Veteran's Day) by raising over $7,750 for Operation Smile on that special day. PPA Charities President Mary Fisk-Taylor adds, "To all who donated, you helped prove how much photographers care for others. We thank you for your generosity." Don't worry, there are more chance to help Operation Smile this year--just visit ppacharities.com!

And don't forget to celebrate charity and take part in the auction at the PPA Charities Celebration at Imaging USA.

Every day, thousands of children suffer with facial deformities. Make 11.11.11 the day you help such children smile again!

You can when you help PPA Charities meet its Operation Smile fundraising goal this year by 11.11.11. A unique date like this comes around only every 100 years. So, make it count by designating it your fundraising day--your day to save smiles! If every PPA member donated just $11.11 on that day, we would raise enough money for over 1,000 children to receive the facial surgeries performed by Operation Smile's medical volunteers (doubling our previous donations)!

Every little bit can help save a smile. Plus, donations of $111.11 and above will receive a PPA Charities t-shirt AND the chance to meet and greet Dr. Magee, founder of Operation Smile, at the PPA Charities Celebration at Imaging USA! The more you donate, the more smiles you'll help save (and gifts you'll earn). Go to www.PPAcharities.com for details.

Donate now to save smiles on 11.11.11!

Every day, thousands of children suffer with facial deformities. Make 11.11.11 the day you help such children smile again!

You can when you help PPA Charities meet its Operation Smile fundraising goal this year by 11.11.11. A unique date like this comes around only every 100 years. So, make it count by designating it your fundraising day--your day to save smiles! If every PPA member donated just $11.11 on that day, we would raise enough money for over 1,000 children to receive the facial surgeries performed by Operation Smile's medical volunteers (doubling our previous donations)!

Every little bit can help save a smile. Plus, donations of $111.11 and above will receive a PPA Charities t-shirt AND the chance to meet and greet Dr. Magee, founder of Operation Smile, at the PPA Charities Celebration at Imaging USA! The more you donate, the more smiles you'll help save (and gifts you'll earn). Go to www.PPAcharities.com for details.

Donate now to save smiles on 11.11.11!

Join photographer David Ziser and Animoto on a Photo Walk through New York City! The suggested donation is $20/person, and proceeds will go to PPA Charities in support of Operation Smile. There are only 50 tickets available. Get yours now: http://bit.ly/nDVYdw. 

The early registration deadline for the upcoming Chicks Who Click Conference is extended to April 30! Don't miss your last chance to save $50 on a great learning (and relaxing) experience, one that will help you help others via PPA Charities and Operation Smile. Here's a peek at some more exciting Chicks Who Click news:

• PPA has added a "Business Basics" Studio Management Services Workshop prior to the main conference.
• The Boutique Trade Show has sold out, promising great opportunities for you to meet with top industry reps in an intimate setting.
• PPA members receive a merit for attending.
• The gift bags are worth as much as the registration fee.
• Rooms at the fabulous Firesky Resort are only $100.
• And you can see the complete schedule online!
  

PPA Charities has announced the speaker line-up for their Chicks Who Click conference, June 23-26, at the Firesky Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. This year will feature the opening reception in the Boutique Show, an early morning Photographic Shoot-Out for attendees, extended Break-Out sessions for hands on learning and as usual plenty of quality time where speakers and attendees can hang out together.

Earlybird registration, only $279, (PPA members, until 3/31/11) includes receptions, Saturday dinner, three breakfasts and Girls Night Out.

PPA is also offering an SMS 2-Day Business Basics Workshop immediately prior to Chicks Who Click at the same location. (extra fee)

Speakers and topics include:

• Sandy Puc', M.Photog.Cr.
  How to Make Pigs Fly...and other marketing magic!
• Ann Monteith, M.Photog.Cr., Hon.M.Photog., A-ASP
  Charitable Marketing and Pet Photography
• Jen Hillenga, M.Photog.Cr.
  Seniors and PhotoShop & Other Stuff
• Jenn Hudson, M.Photog.Cr.
  Flying Lessons: An Honest, Unpretentious and Revealing Program About True Living in Photography, Balancing with Prospect, and Leaving Room for You.
• Carol Andrews, M.Photog.Cr.
  Citra-Solv Altered Inks Experience
  
• Susan Michal, M.Photog.Cr.
  Newborns
• Kay Eskridge, M.Photog.Cr.
  Celebrate Sexy Boudoir Portraits
• Cindy Behnke, M.Photog.Cr.
  The Fine Art of Maternity Portraits
• Susan Michal, M.Photog.Cr.
  Wedding Photography
• Vicki Taufer, M.Photog.Cr.
  Finding Joy in Your Journey

Join us at the FREE PPA Charities Celebration event at Imaging USA on January 15, 2011, in San Antonio! Along with celebrating and enjoying the camaraderie, there will be great items to buy at live and silent auctions. Here's the most recent list of items to be auctioned:

• LIVE AUCTION: Richard Sturdevant's "The Deadman's Hand" 30x40 Framed Canvas
• LIVE AUCTION: Spend a Week at Deep Creek Lake! - The high bidder will win a week's stay at Jim and Ann Monteith's lake house at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Offered on May 7-13, 2011, the lake-side home has 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, sleeps 12, and would be perfect for a family vacation, business meeting or for hosting your own workshop.
• LIVE AUCTION: Package of all Doug Gordon Products - $1700
• RAFFLE: Texas School "Bonanza Basket" - Worth over $6,000, this item contains educational products donated by some of the 2011 Texas School instructors.
• SILENT AUCTION: Bid on Workshops, Equipment, Software, Mentoring and More!

The list of auction items is growing daily, so check back to see what's been added to the list, from a $250 gift certificate from AsukaBook to the Full Creative Pak from Kobota Image Tools ($899). Learn more here.