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American Family Children's Hospital in Madison announces a partnership with Flashes of Hope, benefiting Children with Cancer and other Life Threatening Illnesses

May 31, 2008

Photography program highlights the bravery, grace and spirit of children battling cancer and other life threatening Illnesses. American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) 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 17 cities across the country, with plans to open 2 additional chapters in 2007. “We are thrilled to bring the program to AFCH in Madison, to give this gift to so many children in our community� said Chapter Director Trudy Brule. The first shoot is scheduled to take place on June 28th, photographing 10 families. The first photo shoot will be done by Jeff Miller, a senior photographer for University Communications at UW- Madison which is the central media relations unit for the UW-Madison campus. Deonne Salon and Spa will provide a make-up artist and hairstylist for the first shoot. This chapter represents the first in the state of Wisconsin. 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 Madison AFCH Chapter was funded through a generous grant from Cure Kids Cancer Coalition to underwrite all of the Chapter start-up costs. Photo shoots will be held monthly at the hospital. For further information about the Madison Chapter, please contact Trudy Brule at 608-838-9004. About American Family Children’s Hospital Madison Scheduled to open in the summer of 2007, the American Family Children’s Hospital will support full integration of clinical care, academic programs and research initiatives to produce a state-of-the-art enterprise not found elsewhere in the region. Adjacent to the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, it will be a world class pediatric health care facility solely dedicated to the care and treatment of children and their families. 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 1500 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