MEDIA ALERT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          

CONTACT: Jacki Garbinsky: 803-995-1413    [email protected] 

LOOK! PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT VIRTUAL WATCH PARTY PREMIERES THIS SUNDAY!

WHO: Family Connection of South Carolina—a statewide non-profit organization providing services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or chronic health condition.

WHAT:  Family Connection of South Carolina’s annual LOOK! Photography Exhibit—a collection offering an inspiring glimpse into the lives of children and young people who have a disability or chronic health condition. To create the exhibit, professional photographers from across the state volunteered their time to host photo sessions with more than 60 families who have received services from the organization. Annually, Family Connection serves more than 3,000 families across South Carolina.

The intent of LOOK! is to highlight the beauty and unique abilities of the child or young person being photographed. Each photo includes a scannable code bringing viewers to a story page highlighting the individual in the photograph. The exhibit embodies Family Connection’s vision of inclusion, equity, and community.

WHEN: The 2021 LOOK! Photography Exhibit and awards ceremony will be presented for the first time virtually at www.FamilyConnectionofSouthCarolina at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 12. It will also be available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz_6qKcncOU

WHERE: Following the virtual premiere, the physical exhibit will be open to the public starting Monday, September 13th in the Upstairs Gallery at the Koger Center for the Arts. Appointments to view the exhibit are required and may be made by calling 803-777-7500. The exhibit will remain on display in the Upstairs Gallery of the Koger Center through October.

MORE:  Michael Leach, State Director for the South Carolina Department of Social Services, receives the Pat Head Advocate of the Year Award.

Tanesha M. Wilson, of Columbia, receives the Support Parent of the Year Award.

The Kinney family of Columbia is serving as Ambassadors for LOOK! 2021. Early on, Charles and Elizabeth Kinney noticed their daughter Ellington was missing developmental milestones. Eventually Ellington was diagnosed with a very rare genetic neurological condition, KCNQ3. Due to this condition, Ellington has global developmental delays, cortical visual impairment, and autism. 

LOOK! 2021 is sponsored by Life Changer Sponsor: The Rosenbaum Family. Additional sponsors include Healthy Blue^SM, BlueChoice^® HealthPlan of South Carolina, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Willoughby & Hoefer–Attorneys at Law, Palmetto Pediatrics, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, Bright Start LLC, Richland/Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board, B106.7 FM and HealthLinks Magazine. Photo and print sponsor is Apex Graphics. Venue sponsor is Koger Center for the Arts.

For more details visit www.familyconnectionsc.org/look or call 803-995-1413.

About Family Connection of South Carolina

For 30 years, Family Connection of South Carolina has been changing lives by making connections, raising awareness, and promoting inclusion for those with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Family Connection offers programs and services to ensure that parents, professionals, and caregivers have access to available resources to help their children reach their full potential. Key areas of focus include parent support, healthcare, education, training, and advocacy. Family Connection has served more than 100,000 families since 1990. For more information visit www.familyconnectionsc.org or call 800-578-8750.