Angie Rushing, pictured far left, has photographed several Pablove Shutterbugs classes over the years. Most recently, she helped The Pablove Foundation document the 5-Week photography program in Austin, Texas. View her original blog post on her website.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and over the past year, I have had the amazing opportunity to volunteer as a photographer for The Pablove Foundation, which is an organization “fighting childhood cancer with love.” In addition to providing funding to further research, they also inspire kids fighting cancer though their Pablove Shutterbugs program.

I have absolutely LOVED getting to volunteer with them and highly recommend it to ANYONE! Here is a little bit about the program:

Each semester across the country, kids living with cancer are invited to be a part of the program and receive their own digital camera and five weeks of photography lessons – all for free! Photographers in the community volunteer their time to teach these kids lessons in perspective, portraits and painting with light. The kids then get to go on a field trip to put into practice the things the have learned. At the end of both semsters, a photo from each student is displayed in a Gallery Show where the guest can purchase prints in support of The Pablove Foundation. My role with the Pablove Shutterbugs here in Austin was the class photographer, so I got to float around, hang out with these amazing kids and take pictures of them taking pictures – how awesome is that?!

Pictures really are worth a thousand words, so take a look at a few of my favorites from the past year:

Childhood Cancer research is greatly underfunded, and I would love it if you would consider supporting The Pablove Foundation and the Pablove Shutterbugs program! You can purchase prints of the kids’ photographs and support the foundation through the new Pablove Print Shop. Go browse the photos these kids took – they are pretty amazing!

Also, if you are interested in volunteering with the program, you can apply here.

– Angie Rushing, Pablove Shutterbugs Volunteer Photographer, Austin