CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY HEART & SOUL PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS!!

FIRST PRIZE:

Aki Blake and the Kids’ Pasta Project Scenic Mesa Ranch, Hotchkiss, Colorado Award: Flip minoHD camcorder

The Kids’ Pasta Project prepares and serves homemade pasta dinners and donates profits to local causes. Aki Blake is both a founding board member and a managing director of the Project. She lives in Hotchkiss with her husband and two children, who are also active in the Kids’ Pasta Project.

SECOND PRIZE:

Jay Heritage Center, “Historic Preservation Can Be Green” The 1838 Jay House, Rye, New York Award: Gift Certificate to B&H Photo/Video

During their visit to the National Historic Landmark, 130 5th graders from the Davis School of New Rochelle learned about American heritage, architecture, historic preservation, social justice and sustainable design. According to Jay Heritage Center staff, bright, young people like these are the heart and soul of their communities. To help foster this heart and soul, JHC aims to serve as an innovative classroom committed to responsible stewardship of the natural and manmade world.

THIRD PRIZE:

Bill Revill and the Durham Fair Horse Pull Durham, Connecticut Award: Gift Certificate to B&H Photo/Video

The Durham Fair has been held every fall since 1916, rain or shine. The year this photo was taken—2008—was an exceptionally soggy one, and while a number of events had to be canceled, the horse pulls carried on. Bill Revill lives in Meriden, Connecticut and has been taking photos since elementary school. He also paints in his spare time.

The contest may be over, but it doesn’t have to end here: keep capturing the Heart & Soul of your community digitally or on film, and post your photos to Orton’s Flickr group to share with others. Or engage your neighbors and create some buzz by launching a similar contest in your town. Invite schools, church congregations, elected officials and assisted living communities to join in the fun. Because everyone—age, politics, profession and beliefs aside—can relate to what it means to belong to a place.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our first Heart & Soul Photo Contest. And don’t forget—all finalists will be showcased in the Heart & Soul gallery at the Foundation’s COMMUNITYMATTERS10 Conference in Denver, Colorado, October 5th through 8th, 2010. We’ll see you there!

DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE:   PDF   WORD

READ MEDIA RELEASE ONLINE

Click the link at the top of this page to view all the finalists, captions and bios in slideshow format.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FINALISTS:

Because so many images deserved recognition—and because we couldn’t help ourselves—Foundation staff members selected a group of our favorites as well (also featured in the automated slideshow at the top of the page). These are not eligible to receive votes in this contest but are great photographs nonetheless. Enjoy...

ORTON PICKS: