Two years ago I started volunteering with UCP Cleveland to shoot pictures of their involvement with the Cleveland Triathlon.  My connection was through some friends from high school that have a wonderful son, Tyler (his picture is down below), that has CP.  He’s a great kid and I was looking for some way to give a little back.  It was a great connection and UCP has been using my images on promotional materials for the race every year since.  I love doing it.  I already have this year’s race on my calendar.

Late last year they got in touch and asked if I would be willing to help out with their website.  Not sure if you ever saw their old one, but it was nothing to write home about.  They were giving it a complete make-over and needed new photographs for it.  They also wanted fresh images they could use going forward for their literature.

In the end, I spent two days with them at various locations around Cleveland building a library of stock photography that could be used for everything from their website to annual reports (and they were!).

So while, that sounds cool, and it was, the best part was actually working with the clients and staff at UCP Cleveland.  Everybody was so very kind and friendly.  It’s easy to see that staff and clients are family to each other.  It’s not just children either, young adults adults get help from the programs at UCP and from the smiles on the faces I saw during my two days there, they all really love what they do for each other.   That happiness is contagious and I spent two days shooting with a smile on my face as well.

Make sure to click over to see the UCP Cleveland’s new website at http://ucpcleveland.org and learn more the services they provide and how you might be able to help!