by Benjamin Deeter, Student Public Relations Writer
This Christmas season, Cedarville University photographer Scott Huck, along with staff and student volunteers are giving the gift of Christmas portraits to families, regardless of their financial resources. The photographs will be taken Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Clifton Avenue Church of God in Springfield.
Thousands of photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists in more than 70 countries and every U.S. state will participate in the event, which involves finding people in need, taking their picture, printing their picture and then delivering it free of charge. Help-Portrait, founded by award-winning photographer Jeremy Cowart, is leading the worldwide campaign.
“Help-Portrait allows local photographers to invest in their communities and give back by giving away portraits to those that might not otherwise be able to pay for portrait sessions,” said Huck, who has volunteered with the event for 11 years.
— Lydia Wolterman
In 2009, Huck got involved with Help-Portrait in Dayton by contributing to an event. While looking for opportunities to expand Help-Portrait in the Miami Valley, he partnered with Springfield Promise Neighborhood to provide and host a Help-Portrait event in Springfield in 2013. Last year, Huck hosted the first-ever Help-Portrait in Cedarville, Ohio.
“I am grateful to be part of something that means so much to families in the Springfield community,” said Lydia Wolterman, a junior visual communication design major who has volunteered for two years. “To give this gift of a portrait to families during the holiday season, most who have never even had a portrait taken before, has always taught me to be grateful for my own family and to never take for granted something even as small as taking a picture with your loved ones.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,380 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.