By Doris Christelis, Contributing Writer
Region – Kim Rosen has two hobbies – photography and fundraising for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The photographer, who launched “Photos for Cures” more than two years ago, has donated all fees she charges for portraits and other photo sessions to St. Jude's; so far she has raised over $12,000 for the hospital.
Rosen began supporting St. Jude many years ago.
“I had always seen the St Jude infomercials on television and become a Partner in Hope. At the time, I used to do stand-up comedy in Boston and had some great comedic connection, so I started holding comedy fundraisers, where the ticket sales went to St Jude.”
Those fundraisers generated over $10,000.
“In May 2010 my friend lost her 3-year-old, Dylan Seymour, to leukemia, and I once again had a strong desire to do something to help make a difference,” Rosen said. “Photos for Cures was born and remains my pride and joy.”
Photos for Cures was founded with the sole purpose of raising funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Rosen emphatically stated that she never pockets anything. One hundred percent of the fees she charges for her photography will always go to the hospital.
“The money never touches my bank account,” she said. “This is why I want my clients to write their checks to the hospital instead of me.”
Rosen has done many family portrait sessions and also loves photographing children “being silly and acting like children.”? Her photography is mostly candid, with the necessary posed shots from time to time.? She can be hired for certain events as well, but at this time, she does not photograph weddings.
Rosen works as a photographer part-time, while working full-time for Globoforce in Southborough.? Her photography fees, donated to St. Jude's, are $75/hour, and she can be contacted on her website www.photosforcures.com or via her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PhotosForCuresPhilanthropist.
Rosen's satisfaction in her mission stems from her desire to make a difference.? St. Jude has one plaque hanging at the hospital recognizing her financial contributions and, with just over $8,000 left to get her next plaque, she is working hard to capture more precious family moments.
Rosen has also been honored in the WGBH's Boston A List Contest as runner-up in the Best Charity category, and was featured on the Fox25 Morning News Show last Labor Day. Her dream is to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, knowing DeGeneres will appreciate the work she is doing to help St. Jude, a not-for-profit children's hospital in Memphis.
“It costs over $1 million a day to run this hospital,” Rosen said. “Donations help pay for not only the care for the sick children, but also research, which is essential in fighting childhood cancers.”
Rosen will continue to help raise funds to support St. Jude's mission and encourages others to join in her humanitarian work to help see an end to childhood cancers.
“Clients love being part of this fight,” she said, “and I have found that their writing a check to St. Jude's can be very powerful and meaningful to them.”