Local Photographer Participates in International Charity Model Search

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NAUGATUCK —Jan. 1, 2011 – Local photographer, Regina Ceryak of Blue House Photos, is participating in the 2011 International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Kid and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS.org). The last two years featured over 2,600 model’s images and raised $184,775 for the NILMDTS organization.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS), is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization committed to assisting parents and families who experience the tragedy of an early infant loss. NILMDTS connects families with volunteer photographers and provides them with a professional portrait session and reproducible CD of the images of their baby at no cost to the family. For further information on NILMDTS, visit their website at www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org.

Participating photographers submit portraits of local kids to an international online voting gallery. Parents let friends and family know about the event and encourage them to vote for their child. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org). Finalists are determined by online votes, and all finalists move to an independent judging round.
The grand prize international winner will be determined from the 50 regional finalists. The winners are selected from the finalists by photography industry experts. The winning child receives a $2500 savings bond, a $2500 travel package, and a $100 Target gift card. The second and third place runners up each receive $500 savings bonds, and a $100 Target gift card. Winning photographers also receive valuable prize packages. A studio contest will be held as well, with voted gathered via Facebook, and prizes award to different age groups.

Sandy Puc, Charity Model Search creator and sponsor, has long believed charitable work is the backbone of the community. She created this fundraising contest to highlight excellence in the portrait photography industry as well as raise funds for NILMDTS, the organization she co-founded in 2005.

People who want to enter their kids ages birth to 18 years into the contest may do so by calling Blue House Photos at 203-490-7442. The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.charitymodelsearch.org.

Regina has been a professional photographer practicing in the Naugatuck area since 2009. She and her husband Brian live in Naugatuck with their 2 children.