Lee Spencer Photography Throws Fourth Annual Wishes Can Happen Picture Party

Editor's note: The following information was provided by Lee Spencer Photography.

Lee Spencer Photography's annual Picture Party event to benefit Wishes Can Happen is now in its fourth year.

What started as a passion for photography and a desire to give back has now become an annual celebration for a local nonprofit, Wishes Can Happen (WCH).

Guests can have photographs taken with friends and family, using wacky props provided at the studio. Images will be posted to Facebook for them to use at no cost as profile pictures and to share with friends.

“What I like most about the picture end of the event is the great selection of dress-up accessories that you can use," said Heather West, board member and wish granter for WCH. "Lee and Tammy make this a fun shoot, and they want you to have fun with it. Then they quickly post them to Facebook so you can tag and share with friends and family.”

In addition to the photo shoots, there will also be a bake sale, silent auction, 50/50, raffle baskets, face painting and a play-area for children at the event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 29  in the Lee Spencer Photography studio, 440 North Main St., Suite B, North Canton.

Guests are welcome to stop by anytime during the day.

With a ‘Candy Land’ theme this year, you can also expect lots of sweet treats and a fun children’s area. 

Donations will be accepted, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting WCH, a local nonprofit dedicated to granting wishes to children in Ohio, ages 3 through 21, with life-threatening medical conditions. The main objective of WCH is to put a smile on the face of their wish-children and create happy memories for their families.

Please visit Wishes Granted at http://www.wishescanhappen.org/ to learn more about this local organization and the wishes the children receive. 

The first WCHPP was sort of a spur-of-the-moment event, but each year has proved to be bigger and better as the community comes together to help in so many ways, owner Tammy said. With the second event raising $2,500 and the third raising $5,000, the Spencers are sticking with the tradition of doubling and aiming to raise $10,000 this year, she said.

Lee Spencer and wife Tammy are passionate about their support of this nonprofit because it has personally touched their family’s lives with Lee’s sister, Amy Lynn Spencer. 

At 14, Amy, a gifted ballet dancer, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  

As the illness limited her dance, Amy wished to learn to play the classical music that moved her. 

Wishes Can Happen granted Amy’s wish by providing her with a piano and lessons. Amy learned to play the music she loved before passing away in 1984 at the age of 16.

“Lee and I wanted to help raise awareness of this wonderful organization and greatly desired to do more for the wish-children and their families,” Tammy said. “Photography is what we love and are passionate about so we thought a picture party where we posted pictures to Facebook for everyone in attendance to share would be a blast.”

Madelyn Sweeney, community relations director for WCH, said Tammy and Lee have always been there to help WCH.

“Their enthusiasm in planning this event is contagious," Sweeney said. "I love the professional pictures they take, and I am always pleasantly surprised at the creative touches they add each year,” she said.

The Spencers' love that WCH is local to their home state and is an all-volunteer organization with 100 percent of funds used to fulfill children’s wishes.

"You know your donation stays close to home,” Tammy said. “You may know the recipient or they may even live in your own neighborhood.”

Find Lee Spencer Photography on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/leespencerphoto to get updates on the fourth annual WCHPP and visit their website at http://www.leespencerphoto.com to learn more about this small business and what they represent.