CaribPR Wire

100% of the proceeds from the day of portraits will assist with the relief efforts in Haiti.

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Adriana Casey Photography has partnered with the American Red Cross to offer a day of portrait sessions with 100% of the proceeds going to assist with the relief efforts in Haiti.  “Portraits for Haiti” will take place on Monday, February 1st from 9:30am to 6:30pm in New York City.  “The goal is to provide professional portraits in exchange for donations that will help the Haiti relief operation,” said Adriana Casey. “It is clear that what took minutes to destroy will take many years and the collective support of our world community to help mend.”

A variety of portrait types are available, from headshots to maternity to newborn and family portraits.  Each portrait session will take place in a private studio and will be 20 minutes in length. The suggested donation is $50, and a disc with fully edited high resolution images will be provided.  Images will also be uploaded to an online gallery and access to a professional lab for printing will be provided.

Underscoring its commitment to charity, Adriana Casey Photography is focused on giving back and getting involved. This day of portrait sessions is donated to help Haiti recover from the earthquake that has turned its country upside down. The belief of Adriana Casey Photography is that together, our world community can contribute in ways that will help Haiti repair itself.  Calumet Photographic has donated photographic equipment, and studio space has been provided by Select Office Suites.

The American Red Cross has reported that this is already the largest single-country relief operation in global Red Cross history. The number of emergency response teams in or en route to Haiti equals those that responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami – an emergency that spanned 14 countries. Because of the generosity of donors, people in Haiti will receive more than immediate relief — they will receive resources, support and training from the Red Cross that will help them thrive for years to come.

About Adriana Casey Photography

ADRIANA CASEY PHOTOGRAPHY (www.adrianacaseyphotography.com) is a portrait and event photography studio based in Manhattan, New York.  Adriana Casey Photography is committed to offering high quality images and capturing special moments in people’s lives.  Adriana Casey Photography utilizes advanced photographic equipment to create unique and beautiful images. Adriana Casey Photography currently services the greater New York area, including New Jersey and Connecticut, and is available for travel.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org.
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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Within days of the creation of the American Red Cross LGBT Haiti Relief Fund, a Red Cross representative stated the fund has already raised more money than many of the huge corporate donors. This was accomplished by significant outreach efforts to the LGBT community via donors and activists along with a massive email campaign to the members of three LGBT cruise companies, Olivia, Atlantis and RSVP. Within a week, the community has raised over $150,000 for the fund.

Donations of cruises, an upgrade auction and matching funds all were contributed by the cruise companies as pledges came pouring in with record dollars in a matter of a few hours. “We are reaching out to all LGBT organizations and individuals to become part of this relief fund effort and get the word out everywhere,” said Judy Dlugacz, President and founder of Olivia Companies, a lesbian-oriented vacation company. “If we all work together we can provide enormous support to the Haiti relief efforts.”

“Over the last week we have seen a wonderful broadening of this initiative within our community,” stated Claire Lucas, an international development expert and a well known community activist and political fundraiser who worked with the American Red Cross to set up the fund. This effort began with the LGBT cruise companies and has quickly expanded to include other organizations and individuals. “Just this morning, three very diverse LGBT groups approached us to join the initiative; The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission based in New York, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center/Pride Center representing Southern Florida and a donor-directed community fund at the Alaska Community Foundation.”

“We are inspired to see so many groups coming together to help earthquake survivors in Haiti,” says Nan Buzard, Sr. Director of International Response and Programs for the American Red Cross. “The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community has done an outstanding job of raising funds to support the American Red Cross’s relief work in Haiti.”

Cary Alan Johnson, Executive Director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, stated, “The LGBT community has a long tradition of mobilizing quickly to respond to crisis. We are proud that so many business leaders in our community have come forward to assist the people of Haiti in this time of great need.”

Lucas added, “While we have received over 1,300 donations totaling over $150,000 as of today, the actual donations have only just begun and we predict there will be a colossal response to this historic endeavor.”

Mark Bromley, of The Council for Global Equality, a non-profit organization that encourages a stronger voice on LGBT human rights concerns said, “We are urging all members of the LGBT community and their friends to donate to the American Red Cross LGBT Haiti Relief Fund to help the people of Haiti. Our community sends its deepest compassion and support to the people of Haiti and we will speak as one voice to show that support.”

To contribute to the fund, visit: http://american.redcross.org/LGBT-pub

For interviews and more information about the American Red Cross LGBT Haiti Relief please contact Andrea Burnett [email protected] or 650.207.0917.

BOSTON, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Alan Lewis, Chairman of Grand Circle Corporation, which owns Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel, today reported that $517,719 has been donated by their charitable arm, Grand Circle Foundation, and by more than 4,000 travelers (4,029) in support of Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.  The funds will be used to provide water and food to earthquake survivors.

 In a one week period, Grand Circle travelers, mostly retired Americans in their late 60s, 70s, and 80s, donated $367,719, including $346,267 donated by 3,536 travelers during a 96-hour period that began last Thursday, January 14.  Their generous response came quickly after an email from Grand Circle Foundation invited travelers to donate to the Red Cross through the Foundation during a given time period to receive a 100% match. The matching period raised $150,000 and Grand Circle Foundation matched that for a total donation of $517,719 to the American Red Cross of Mass. Bay.

 ”These donors are mostly retired, middle class Americans in their late 60s, 70s, and 80s,” said Mr. Lewis.  “While most are not wealthy, as travelers they consider themselves to be global citizens and, when called, will always do what they can to help.  I have always considered our travelers to be America’s greatest generation, and their actions this past week further confirm that.”

 Alan and Harriet Lewis established Grand Circle Foundation in 1992 as a way to give back to the countries through which Overseas Adventure Travel and Grand Circle Travel customers travel.  Since then, the Foundation has pledged or donated more than $47 million worldwide to support the education of young people and the preservation of cultural treasures and traditions.  Currently, the Foundation supports more than 80 schools and educational institutions serving youth in more than 60 countries.  Fore more information, please visit our new website: www.grandcirclefoundation.org.