Plans are being finalized for the 17th annual Children’s Portrait Contest that benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. The sponsor of the contest, Phil Ziesemer Photography, Ltd., located in Merrill, donates the proceeds of the public voting to the local charity that helps sick children.
The Children’s Miracle Network was selected because of its outstanding work with children and families challenged by illness. Since that time, Phil Ziesemer Photography, Ltd. has raised over $10,000 for the network which is headquartered at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. The funds have been raised by public voting on the best child’s portrait made during the event. This year the contest will run from Feb. 1 to March 2.
After the local contest is complete, the entries will be entered in the ADORABLE national portrait contest. The portraits will be judged in six age categories from newborn to 12 years. Five monetary prizes will be awarded in each level plus a grand prize of a $1500 gift card.
“This is an event in which everyone wins,” says photographer Phil Ziesemer. “Yes there are some portrait prints and gift cards that are given away, but every entrant family receives a family portrait certificate too. Family portraits are so important because they show the love and growth of those who are most important in our lives,” he added.
The studio will lower its session fee and include a portrait print for the judging. After all the parents have made their selections for the contest, the public will be able to vote with their dollars for the best, or cutest, child’s portrait. The top three winners are determined by the level of the donations that are made. The photographer’s choice is selected by the studio. All of the money that is collected during the balloting is sent to the CMN.
“The donation to the Children’s Miracle Network was one of our first efforts to use our talents to help others,” Ziesemer says. “From there we added our Turkey Daze promotion in the fall to help the Community Food Pantry. We have also run promotions that benefit the Lincoln Co. Humane Society. We feel that all of these events are good ways to raise awareness of the fact that there are people and services in our community that could use some help.”
The 2012 local winners were: Emily Amelse, the daughter of Tony and Jamie Amelse, Tori Amelse, the daughter of Eric Amelse and Desiree Bialecki, and Ben Thom, the son of Josh and Tina Thom. The Photographers Choice Award was presented to Brayden Annis, the son of Lisa Annis and Ryan Annis.