"Amy's Wish" Hosts Photography Art Auction To Benefit Orphans in Zimbabwe
Silent Auction Set for Martin Gallery, Thurs., June 5, 5pm-8pm

Please join us June 5 as we launch a regional fundraising project to benefit hundreds of needy orphans in the country of Zimbabwe. This fundraising event will combine a passion for photographic art with a lifeline of international hope and care.

Charleston photographer Amy Tumbleston-Brown is leading "Amy's Wish," a regional effort to help provide school supplies, food, shelter, medicine and clothing for hundreds of children in Zimbabwe, one of Africa's poorest regions. She will personally deliver donated supplies to two orphanages in the country's Seke and Chihota regions in mid-September.

Amy's Wish will host a kick-off fundraiser Thursday, June 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Martin Gallery at 18 Broad St. in Charleston. The event includes a silent auction of two dozen framed prints of Amy's striking photographic art, much of which she developed during travels to impoverished corners of the globe over the past several years. Several prints may be viewed online at www.tumblestonphotography.com. All proceeds from the auction and other donations will be used to directly benefit the children.

"I've visited many orphanages and know first-hand of the true poverty, sickness and need throughout Africa," said Amy. "Relief organizations estimate that 50-percent of the children are likely infected with HIV/AIDS. For just a few dollars per child, we can bring care and hope.

"Zimbabwe is dealing with political unrest, massive unemployment near 95-percent, drought and famine, as well as a national health crisis and a population that includes nearly 1 million orphans," she said. "We will travel with relief volunteers to personally ensure these donated items get to the orphans in need."

Amy's Wish project is partnered with the international relief non-profit, Heart4Kids (please visit www.heart4kids.org). Heart4Kids has led several mission trips to Zimbabwe to deliver school supplies, clothing, toys, toiletries, and over-the-counter medications for common ailments, such as colds and mild pain.

Additional goals through Heart4Kids include building an orphanage to support 100 children, installing a drinking water well, building a medical clinic and conducting community outreach program that focus on feeding children living with poor relatives and giving them educational and medical assistance. Heart4Kids is a registered non-profit 501-c-3 and all donations are tax deductible.

Local support for Amy's Wish is well-underway through efforts by students at First Baptist Church School. The students have donated much-needed supplies such as blankets, shoes, toiletries, clothing and more.

The Amy's Wish project will continue taking donations this summer through Sept. 1. The project is keeping a careful inventory and accounting of donated supplies and will utilize 100-percent of cash donations to augment needed materials for the children.

How to Help

• Attend the June 5 launch fundraiser and make a silent auction bid or other donation.

• Deliver donated supplies to Tumbleston Photography Studios at 940 St. Andrews Blvd., ph: 843-766-9400.

• Visit www.heart4kids.org to make an online donation for "Amy's Wish."

• Visit www.tumblestonphotography.com for project updates.

About Amy Tumbleston-Brown

Amy Tumbleston-Brown is President and CEO of Tumbleston Photography Studios and its specialty division Tumbleston Weddings.

A Charleston native, Amy has built a stellar reputation as a high-demand wedding and event photographer throughout the southeast and beyond in recent years. She studied under legendary and world-renowned, Atlanta-based photographer Denis Reggie. Reggie is a sought-after celebrity wedding and portrait photographer who helped develop a unique, highly artistic style for weddings and events.

She continues to devote time and resources to mission trips to Africa to help educate others on HIV/AIDS awareness, providing school supplies and donations to schools. She has helped with relief work during natural disasters such as Hurricane Andrew Florida and local food drives in the Charleston area such as My Sisters House. She provided holiday photos for the recovering children at MUSC at Christmas time and donated permanent photo stations for kids at MUSC's Atrium interactive play area. She also donates portraits to Communities and Schools, Carolina Youth Development Center, Aquarium Environmental Stewardship Banquet, MUSC Children's Charity Fund, MUSC Transplant Center, Charleston's Jewish Federation Remember Human Race Project, Darkness to Light, James Island Christian School Benefit and the First Baptist Church School Benefit.