Category Archives: Giving Back

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Images for a Cure

October 1, 2009 – 12:31 PM

Welcome aboard and help me celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A few weeks ago what was only an idea in a photographers heart quickly became a reality as Kristen Weaver created the Images for a Cure national fundraising event.

Images for a Cure is a one day event where hundreds of participating photographers will be shooting portrait sessions for a discounted session fee of $100.  All the session fees from the event will be donated directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.  This day in age it seems virtually impossible to find someone who has not been touched by breast or other forms of cancer.  A few  years ago Bradford’s aunt was quickly taken by the disease in a matter of months.  We are so honored to take part in such an incredible event that allows us to use our talents and bring something beautiful to an ugly disease.  Join us on October 11, 2009 as photographers across the country will be shooting portraits to help raise funding to further breast cancer research.  Christopher Kijowski Photography is proud to be offering mini sessions on Sunday the 11th for $100 each.  Our mini sessions are perfect for family photos, holiday photos for Christmas cards, or just because.  Please contact us at christopherkijowskiphotography@gmail.com or go directly to our website at www.christopherkijowskiphotography.com if you are interested in booking your session.  Book soon as only a limited number of sessions are available.

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*Session fee does not include prints or a disc of images.  All products can be purchased separately.

By Christopher | Also posted in Clients, Promotions, Uncategorized, volunteer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

15th Annual Make-A-Wish/97 Rock Radiothon

September 18, 2009 – 7:16 AM

For the 15th consecutive year, Larry Norton will spend 28 hours on 97 Rock to raise money to help grant wishes to Western New York children with life threatening illnesses.

The Make-A-Wish Radio-thon is your chance to help grant a wish by making a request and pledge to hear any song you want, or bid during our hourly auction on some one of a kind rock and sports items.

The goal for this years radiothon is $250,000. When the radiothon ended at 10:00 AM over $240,000 had been raised for Make-A-Wish. The listeners of 97-Rock came through again and now more wishes can be granted. WOW! It amazes me how the people of Buffalo, NY come together and dig deep to help such a  great cause! Thanks to veryone who volunteered their time and a special thanks to everyone who made a donation of time and money.

Larry Norton and Julie FineRian Lindell of the Buffalo Bills.

Rian Lindell of the BUffalo BillsDJ Jixster

DJ Jixster and the kids

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MAW RadiothonMichael is another “Wish” kid who overcame great obstacles with the help of Make-A-Wish.

MAW RadiothonLarry with Michael and his parents.

MAW Radiothon familyLarry Norton just twelve more hours before the end of the radiothon.

MAW Radiothon Larry Norton

By Christopher | Also posted in Clients, Make A Wish, Misc., Personal Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Pops

August 21, 2009 – 6:47 AM

Nancy and I visited her dad at the nursing home yesterday evening. he’s looking more alert. The change in medication proved successful as he has been more awake and attentive. Before the medication change he slept throughout the day.

My grandmother passed away two years ago in the same nursing home. Since that time I found it difficult to return. She was a resident of a local nursing home for several months. During that time I had only taken my camera there on one occasion. I told myself “I didn’t want to remember her that way.” Seeing my father-in-law and making the photographs for a book for my wife I have been taught a valuable lesson. That lesson is to respect what what I have now and to live life to its fullest. For me living life to it’s fullest is the ability to give back in some way. Each year I give away photography packages to those family’s who might otherwise not be able to afford a family portrait. Make-A-Wish is one opf my favorite charities with which to work. I truly enjoy the smile on the faces of the kids when they become the focus of such positive attention.

My father-in-law suffers from Alzheimer’s. He does not recognize me when I visit. There have been occasions when, after looking away from I returned see his eyes locked on my face. I’m sure he’s trying to identify who I am. I’m not sure he recognizes anyone, at least consistently. His mind, once sharp, is now dulled by the disease.

Hands

Nancy is the hair and makeup artist in the family. She often provides that assistance at photo shoots. Nancy also makes sure her father is shaved and has a haircut. He is lucky to have his wife and children provide adjunct care.

Getting a haircut.

Szczepaniec

Pops

By Christopher | Also posted in Family, Misc., Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

7th Annual Carly’s Crossing

August 17, 2009 – 2:54 PM

On October 19, 1999, just a few weeks after complaining of headaches, 8-year-old Carly Collard Cottone was diagnosed with medulloblastoma – an aggressive form of brain cancer. Three days later, the tumor was removed. Carly began radiation treatment at Roswell Park Cancer Institute soon after.

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Unfortunately, this was not the first time Carly was touched by cancer. She lost both of her biological parents–Tony and Judie Cottone–to cancer during the first seven years of her life. But Carly faced her own battle with cancer with amazing courage and optimism. After all, she had goals and dreams–to go to a Backstreet Boys concert and grow up to become an interior decorator. Nothing was going to slow down this little girl who had so much living to do.

Throughout her fight, Carly was very appreciative of the support she received from her family members and friends. As a way of showing her appreciation, she decided early on in her treatment that she wanted to help other kids who were also battling cancer. Thus, Carly’s Club was born. With the love and support of her adoptive parents, Chuck and Carole Ann Collard, Carly was able to fulfill her dream of helping other families touched by the disease.

Sadly, Carly lost her hard-fought struggle with the disease in August of 2002. Little did she know the positive impact that Carly’s Club would have on the lives of the thousands of children diagnosed with cancer each year.

Carly created a beautiful legacy – and you can help us continue it for all children diagnosed with cancer, and to offer support to families across Western New York. Thank you for your generosity to help find cures and save lives!

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Many thanks to the hundreds of swimmers, volunteers and supporters who made Carly’s Crossing 2009 another successful year! More than 300 swimmers turned out to Gallagher Beach on Sunday, August 16, to dive in and show their support for pediatric cancer research and patient care at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Special thanks to Olympic swimmer Kara Lynn Joyce, who swam in the 600-yard course with our top fundraisers, cheered on our swimmers and made the day extra special! Read more about Carly’s Crossing 2009 in this article from The Buffalo News.

By Christopher | Also posted in Family, Fun Stuff, Misc., Personal, Personal Development, volunteer | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Finding our Way

July 13, 2009 – 3:53 AM

Thorny path

“Our difficulties are not obstacles to the path; they are the path itself. They are opportunities to awaken. Can we learn what it means to welcome an unwanted situation, with its sense of groundlessness, as a wake-up call? Can we look at it as a signal that there is something here to be learned? Can we allow it to penetrate our hearts? By learning to do this, we are taking the first basic step toward learning what it means to be open with whatever life presents us. Even when we don’t like it, we understand that this difficulty is our practice, our path, our life.”
–Ezra Bayda, from Being Zen: Bringing Meditation to Life

Bench in Rochester rose garden
Sometimes we need to look for places to stop and rest along our path. Society tells us we shouldn’t ever stop, we should remain moving at all costs. We may need to stop from time to time, to catch our breath and see what is around us. We cause ourselves difficulty when we move forward with little or no thought of our path. It is then we become lost. Lost because we are unsure what it is we are searching for. Without a clear path we will struggle to find our way.  We also never think to ask others for help or feel it is weak to do so. Instead we move along the path and wonder to ourselves if it is the right path. There are times when we move along the path because others have directed us, others have told us the path is correct. When we place trust in others without trusting that relationship we find ourselves hurt.

Barn, East Otto, NY
Often in our travel we feel as though we’re alone. We see the path but can’t see around the bend. We become tentative and we stop moving forward.

Maine, Kayak Expedition-2007
When we choose to get back onto the path we have been following we need to look for our lighthouse; the beacon that will lead us home.

By Christopher | Also posted in Black & White, Misc., Personal, Personal Development | Tagged , , | Comments (0)