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Akron Children's Hospital announces a partnership with Flashes of Hope, benefiting Children with Cancer and other Life Threatening Illnesses

March 05, 2008  |  Posted by janelle dougherty

Akron Children's Hospital is proud to partner with Flashes of Hope to bring a lasting gift to their pediatric patients and families. Flashes of Hope is a national non-profit organization based in Cleveland, OH that utilizes volunteer, award-winning photographers and stylists to set up photo shoots in pediatric hospitals across the country. The images help children feel better about their changing appearance by celebrating it. For families of terminally ill children, it is especially important to have a portrait that forever preserves the bravery, grace and dignity of their child. Families that are photographed receive a free portrait gift package and a CD with all of their images. Flashes of Hope began its program in 2001, and currently operates in 10 cities across the country, with plans to open 12 additional chapters in 2007. We are thrilled to bring the program to Akron Children's and give this gift to so many children in our community� said Akron Chapter Director Sandra Montgomery. The first shoot in Akron is scheduled to take place on March 6th, photographing 10 families. Flashes of Hope has a long waiting list to begin it's program in more than 24 additional pediatric hospitals across the country, and anticipates more than one thousand children will be photographed this year alone. The Akron Chapter was funded through a generous gift from the Fairlawn Firefighters Association and TWIGG #13 to underwrite the Chapter start-up costs. Photo shoots will be held monthly at the hospital. For further information about the Akron Chapter, please contact Sandra Montgomery at 330-819-4332. About Akron Children's Hospital Akron Children's Hospital is the largest pediatric care provider in Northeast Ohio. It cares for about 400,000 patients each year and performs more pediatric surgeries than any other hospital in Northeast Ohio. Akron Children's operates as a full-service, 253-bed pediatric hospital and houses a regional burn center for both adults and children, as well as a pediatric trauma center. It also offers more than 100 advocacy, education, outreach and research programs, and has been awarded the NorthCoast 99 "Best Workplaces" award. About Flashes of Hope Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating powerful, uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Award-winning photographers and professional make up artists volunteer their time and talent during photo shoots held once a month in cities across the country. More than 2500 children have been photographed since Flashes of Hope's inception in August 2001. For more information about Flashes of Hope, please visit http://www.flashesofhope.org # # # Flashes of Hope Media Relations Janelle Dougherty 216.570.2077 (direct) 216.514.7005 (office) Janelle@flashesofhope.org Akron Children's Hospital Media Relations Development Communications (330) 543-8340