(Columbia, SC)— Family Connection of South Carolina unveiled the 2026 LOOK!™ photography exhibit with a special event for families and photographers on Sunday, June 7 at 701 Whaley. This year’s exhibit features 60 children and young adults with a disability or chronic health condition. 

The exhibit will be at the Richland Library from Thursday, June 11, 2026, to Friday, July 17, 2026. The public is invited to visit the library to view the photographs. 

“We hope everyone will come by the library and take a moment to reflect and to see the joy and everyday moments experienced by children and youth who also happen to have a disability,” said Amy Holbert, CEO of Family Connection. “This is such a special photography collection, and we are grateful to the families for sharing their experiences with us and the photographers who have given of their time and talents to make this exhibit possible.” 

Family Connection honored two individuals with awards during the unveiling.  

Tyler Popillo received the Support Parent of The Year award. Trained Support Parent Volunteers are matched with families that have a child with a similar diagnosis and provide emotional support and hope, in a way that only another parent who has “been there” can do. Popillo is a busy mom of two who been a Support Parent since 2021. Her journey with Family Connection began back in 2019, when her now-9-year-old son was diagnosed with autism. 

Jennifer Rainville, Deputy Director of SC Appleseed Justice, received the Pat Head Advocate of the Year Award. She is an advocate for kids at the State House – testifying and providing input on legislation that impacts families. This year, she worked tirelessly to advocate for a student discipline bill that balanced safety needs of the school with due process rights of students. The bill was signed into law in May. 

Jennifer leads the charge in raising awareness about students’ rights and advocating at the State House for access to a full and fair public education, while also facing challenges head-on at the SC State Board of Education. She is also a new member of the Family Connection Policy Committee. 

LOOK!™ is an annual photography exhibit showcasing the beauty and unique abilities of the children of families served by Family Connection. Professional photographers from across the state volunteer their time for photo sessions to capture the spirit of the children, young adults and their families. The photos feature active, candid moments of the participants doing the things they like to do best. 

For more information on the exhibit, please visit the Family Connection website: https://www.familyconnectionsc.org/look/ 

The LOOK! exhibit highlights the abilities of the person being photographed and encourages those viewing the photos to pause, reflect and see disability in a different way. It is a beautiful collection that speaks to our goal of creating a strong community.