Outreach PWP

Community Service Committee

The Outreach PWP Community Service Committee works with small not-for-profit organizations in New York City whose budgets do not allow for photography for promotion or public relations. Outreach PWP Community Service Committee’s first volunteerism is University Settlement House, located on the Lower East Side. Founded in 1886, University Settlement House is the oldest settlement house in the country, dedicated to improving the life circumstances of low-income people and the communities. Each year, University Settlement serves over 20,000 people by providing child care, pre-school, housing assistance, mental health services, college and career preparation, crisis intervention, senior services, after-school programs and more.

Outreach PWP Community Service Committee felt this was an ideal organization to begin this PWP program with. Outreach PWP Community Service Committee is looking for more organizations to partner with. Maybe you would like to volunteer and join forces with another worthy organization?! Please contact Patricia Gilman for further information on how to do it!

Community Service Committee Success

The committee’s successful year-long partnership with University Settlement House resulted in its 2008 exhibit, University Settlement: A Year in Pictures at the Houston Street YMCA. PWP members who worked on the community service committee include Andy Mars, Catherine Kirkpatrick, Jane Hoffer, Betsy Pinover Schiff, Karen Smul, Deb Tobias, Joan Katz, and Susan Heske.

Outreach PWP Community Service Committee has contracted (as of May 2008) with its second organization, Learning Leaders. Learning Leaders is a group of volunteers who work in the New York City school system helping students who are exhibiting difficulties with their studies. Outreach PWP is excited to be partnering with Learning Leaders, and an exhibition of the photographs produced will be in the coming year!

Student Awards Program Committee

The Outreach PWP Student Awards program was created in 2005 by PWP to honor and assist young women attending New York City public high schools who have displayed an interest and affinity for photography. The program will help promote the next generation of women photographers, will stimulate more young women to pursue photography and to provide these enthusiast female photographers with encouragement and support for their future photographic pursuits

Starting in 2007, the program’s third year, Outreach PWP opened the awards to all young women attending a New York City high school spanning all 4 grade levels. Awards are split into two categories; the 9^th and 10^th grades and 11^th and 12^th grades. A total of 4 winners from each category will be awarded first, second, third prizes and one honorable mention. In 2008, as the students moved into the older category, the students entered as applicants in the older student category.

The PWP Student Awards has developed a following among art teachers, principals and parents in high schools of all five boroughs within New York City.

Jurors for the 2008 awards were David H. Wells, the Narrative Photographer and Lighting Expert, David Lowe, Assistant to the Photography Curator at the New York Public Library, and Jerry Fetzer, a member of Sotheby’s Photography Department. We were honored to have such prestigious photographers donate their time to Outreach PWP’s Student Awards. We would all agree it is for a great cause!

Mentoring Committee

Outreach PWP is in the process of creating this committee to discuss methods where our members can participate in schools and help students learn more about the photography world both commercial and fine art. We are anxiously looking for volunteers to participate in the forming of this committee. Please contact Patricia Gilman for more information.

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