During October, participating member studios of Professional Photographers of America (PPA) from across the country are joining together for “Family Portrait Month," a national fund-raising effort to benefit Operation Smile, which helps children who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

We have pledged to contribute a portion of each October Family Portrait Month sale to PPA Charities, which has chosen Operation Smile as its charitable partner.

October is an ideal time for families to have their portraits created, because the holiday season is just around the corner. Few gifts are appreciated as much as portraits of family members.

When families participate in Family Portrait Month, they will change the lives of children who would otherwise face a lifetime of pain and rejection.

Each year, Operation Smile, a private, not-for-profit organization with thousands of volunteer surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and other specialized health care professionals, performs free surgeries on thousands of needy children around the world.

In as little as 45 minutes and for a cost of approximately $240, one cleft lip surgery can change a child’s life forever. Each year, more than 100,000 children are born with a facial deformity in Operation Smile's 25 partner countries. Tens of thousands remain untreated.

From 2007 to January 2008, PPA-member studios across the U.S. raised $52,000 to benefit Operation Smile. This donation broke the previous donation record by $12,000.

Image Factory donated $500 from last year's promotion, which means two more children have new smiles.

Help us this year by scheduling your family portrait now.