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Some times involvement in charitable projects comes from an event that hits so close to home, you can’t help but be inspired to be involved and give back.  Over a year ago, Yervant and Anie Zanazanian experienced a family crisis with their youngest son, Robie.   If you’ve met Yervant and Anie or heard Yervant speak, you know there’s nobody on the planet who could be more enthusiastic about photography and the pure joy he gets out of exceeding his client’s expectations.  

Yervant sees the world through the eyes of a creative genius…and there are the two key words that launched the Zanazanian household on a quest to raise the awareness and appreciation for something we all take for granted – being able to see the world!

We’re all moved by personal events in our lives, but how many of us actually go out and do something about it?  Yervant and Anie were so moved they started their own campaign and tied it to Sight Savers International.  “Search for Sight” became a permanent tab on Yervant’s home page and the message is now a part of every program and workshop.

I wrote to Anie and asked if she or Yervant would put together something for Charity Fest – she didn’t need to do anymore than write me back…

Dear Skip, You could not have written this at a more appropriate time.
Our little Robbie (6 years old) just had his 2nd eye surgery on Friday, a 2 hour operation, both eyes, totally heart wrenching…. It just brings us closer to that fact that we take so much for granted, especially SIGHT !   Yervant downloaded Robbie’s favorite TV show ‘Sponge Bob’ as an audio so he can still enjoy the stories… that alone is a wake up call, Robbie loves WATCHING Sponge Bob on TV, and we just treat it as a normal part of our life, then we had to have it as an AUDIO entertainment instead, until he could open his eyes again.
It makes one wonder how all the blind and visually impaired truly are disadvantaged and yet…. PHOTOGRAPHERS make a decent living because they can SEE, they have VISION and they can capture what they saw and sell it !
There are numerous and many unfortunate and underprivileged people all over the world, but I feel strongest about the loss of SIGHT. What is this world if we can’t SEE any of it ?

My message is not at all about our Robbie, he is well thank God and the operation was a great success, but my message is to PHOTOGRAPHERS:  stop and think for a minute and count your blessings, and if they wish… donate a couple of bucks toward helping children gain SIGHT.