Last Friday I had an opportunity to hang with members of the Accessium Group and photograph the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Wine Festival for Breast Cancer. The Sabres Alumni are very active in the community as they help organizations raise money for very good causes.

The even was fantastic and had a turn out of over 1000-people. A conservative estimate puts the amount of money raised at $60,000. Not bad. The wonderful folks at the Accessium Group. They volunteered their computer genius and were able to keep track of the auction winners.

I just had to add this photo of Danny with Rob Ray.

Buffalo Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff with Ken Tirohn, COO of the Accessium Group.

Next week is Thanksgiving and I’m hoping everyone is thinking about what they have in their lives for which they are thankful. Next week we’ll post a little something about Thanksgiving.

Thanks again everyone for reading.

Chris

This post is going to be heavily laden with photographs.   This past Monday I had the opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the wonderful staff of the Accessium Group and Make-A-Wish. The teams combined forces and with the addition of the Mikey’s Way Foundation put on the First Annual Make-A-Wish/Mikey’s Way Foundation Golf Tournament. The tournament took place at the beautiful Brookfield Country Club.

Rene Robert as he signs one of the “Orange” seats from the nosebleed section of the old “Aud.”

Rene Robert

Two thirds of the “French Connection” joined by Derek Smith, another Buffalo Sabres Alumni.

Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Derek Smith

Below is Ryan Erwin, CEO of the Accessium Group, Rene Robert and Rick Martin of the Buffalo Sabres and Ken Tirohn, COO of the Accessium Group.

I love volunteering my time especially when it involves such a wonderful organization. I’ve attached some photos which I hope you like.

Thanks so much for reading and keep coming back.

Chris

It’s that time of year again when Larry Norton and 97-Rock complete their 28-hour radiothon for Make-A-Wish. For the 16th 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.

I am so happy and so proud to be affilliated with an organization with such an awesome mission. My only concern is “I wish I could do more.” This year after the 2010 Make-A-Wish Gala in May, I decided I needed to do more for the kids. My time is limited so I decided to donate 1% of my total 2010 wedding photography revenue to Make-A-Wish.

During the radiothon I decided to try to do more so I challenged every wedding/portrait photographer in the area to match my gift. I have also decided to donate 1% from my 2011 wedding photography revenue to Make-A-Wish. Please join me helping these wonderful kids and family’s to have their dreams realized.

Thanks everyone for reading.

Chris

I’ve added some of my favorite photos from this years gala. The gala is difficult for me to explain. It’s something which really needs to be seen. It is a “creative black tie.” The theme every year is “Reach for the Stars.” The idea behind the theme is we are all stars. We all have the power to make change in our own lives and the lives of others. Most of us are lucky individuals and have no idea how lucky we are. We live in the wealthiest country in the world where opportunities are at every turn. It is up to us to identify them and to take them. I am one of those lucky individuals. I have a beautiful wife who supports me as well as two great kids. I have super family and friends who also are supportive of me and push me to be better. Of course I can’s forget the fantastic brides and grooms who trust me with their memories. I am privileged to have such a wonderful job. To all of you, I say “Thank you.”

This has to be my favorite photo from all of the portraits which I took. 1-minute with Sarah and you realized why you were at the gala. If Rob looks familiar it’s because I photographed Meagan and Rob’s wedding on January 9, 2010. You can see photos from the couple’s engagement and wedding here.

Ken and his team starred in “Revenge of the Nerds.” Ken is the COO of the Accessium Group and Secretary of the Western New York Chapter of Make-A-Wish. Ken is also the individual who has helped me to become involved with Make-A-Wish.

Grrrrr! This is the fun booth and the spirit of the annual gala. Have fun and support a great organization.

Dallas Pace and her friends. Dallas was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. A rare form of bone cancer that affects 3-4 children in the US every year. You can go here to see a video interview with Dallas.

Dallas recorded a 3-song CD titled “Right Now.” Dallas recorded the CD in the same studio in Buffalo, NY where the Goo Goo Dolls had recorded their most recent studio album. I had been asked to photograph Dallas for her CD but was forced to cancel due to an appointment conflict.

Sarah and Ken.

I just had to have my photo taken with Sarah. Thanks Ken for snapping this shot. Sarah is a true inspiration. She smiles all the time and her smiles just make you want to smile.

As per usual the event was awesomely powerful. It makes me feel so good to be able to give something back to others who are less fortunate than I. When I have an opportunity to use my photography to capture smiling faces…well that’s just the icing on the cake.

So…in my last post I had said I was going to share an idea I had to become more involved with Make-A-Wish. As I have also said before more time is not an option. I’ve taken a page from Yvonne Chouinard’s company, Patagonia. I will donate a minimum of 1% from every wedding I book back to Make-A-Wish.

As always, thanks to my readers for your constant support. Please think about making a donation to you local Make-A-Wish chapter.

Chris

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.

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

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.

Rian Lindell of the Buffalo Bills.

DJ Jixster

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

Larry with Michael and his parents.

Larry Norton just twelve more hours before the end of the radiothon.

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.

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.

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!

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.

“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

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.

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.

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.

We want to give back; so we are having a contest! We want to give a free family photo session to a deserving family! Send us your family’s story or the story of a family you know that has gone through a lot or given a lot and, if possible, a photo of the family.

The session inlcudes immediate family members, one 8×10 and two 5×7s and it must take place in the Western New York area so the family must be from that area.

Email the story, and possible picture, to christopherkijowskiphotography@gmail.com by June 15, 2009. The winner will be announced on the blog!