I had the honor of working with photographer Rick Smee to create a beautiful coffee table book of photographs from his humanitarian work with The Great Football Giveaway, a UK-based charity whose mission is to donate footballs to children who live in areas of extreme poverty around the world.

No kid should be denied the chance to kick a ball about. It’s one of life’s most simple pleasures.

So that’s what we’re here for. To get sports equipment direct into the hands (or feet) of some of the world’s most disadvantaged kids.

More balls, more smiles. Simple…

Why give a ball?

Footballs not only provide some much needed fun, but they can also be used to help increase school attendance and performance overnight. Alternatively, kids from villages that once fought each other in war, can now use football to play together in peace. All around the world orphan centres, local run organisations and community projects can use footballs to draw kids off the street and into care. Put simply, footballs are a hugely resourceful tool.

Rick joined The Great Football Giveaway in Angola and captured the excitement on the children’s faces as they received their footballs. The book contains amazing portraits of the people of Angola, and Rick also provides great narratives describing his experiences as he traveled through the provinces of Huambo and Lubango.

The book is an amazing testament to the power of a single kind act. Through Rick’s photographs, you can see the joy in the children’s faces as they receive the footballs and the gifts of play and friendship. Like Paul Clarke (founder of The Great Football Giveaway) said, “Simple…”

Below are a few spreads from the book so you can get a glimpse of Rick’s beautiful photography and share in his experience as an ambassador for The Great Football Giveaway.

Click on the link below to view book details or purchase a copy.

The Great Foot…

By Rick Smee

Book Preview

Saving Little Hearts is an organization dedicated to helping children with congenital heart defects and their families by providing emotional assistance and educational information primarily through the distribution of Care Packages.

Several weeks ago, Karin Coulter, director of Saving Little Hearts, contacted me about the possibility of photographers donating time to create portraits of Knoxville’s “heart kids.” Through the KNOX PHOTO community, I was able to help spread the word to local photographers — and several, including myself, volunteered time and talent to help the organization.

This past weekend, I was so happy to meet up with my heart kid, Landin. We had to reschedule our photo session a couple of times because of the rain; but, luckily, we were greeted with beautiful weather on Sunday and had a great time playing at Fort Kid and the World’s Fair Park.

Landin, who is only 14 months old, has already been through two open heart surgeries. But you’d never be able to tell from his energy and infectious smile, which are both probably the results of being loved so much by his parents and sweet big sister, Abby. He’s a curious little boy — and it was fun to watch him pick up pebbles around the play area… and attempt to eat them! And he surprised us all towards the end of the shoot when he started to run across the playground to his sister by the swings. Landin may have tiny feet and little legs, but he sure could move fast!

I know I always say this, but I love being a photographer. I’m so thankful to be able to meet wonderful families and children like Landin and Abby, and capture photographs of them as they play together and show their love for one another through smiles and hugs and laughs.

(Check out the slideshow below.)

Landin and Abby 2009 – Images by Lia Ballentine

An Evening With Gilles Marini – Images by Lia Ballentine

Interested in purchasing prints? Contact me for more information. A portion of the proceeds will go to Relay for Life.

Photo from gillesmarini.com

Spend an evening with Gilles Marini — actor from “Sex and the City” and “Dancing with the Stars” contestant! And support the American Cancer Society Relay for Life!

When: Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Cider House (next to The Valarium), Knoxville, TN

Tickets for the event are $35 for general admission and $75 for VIP. VIP tickets get you special access to the venue, free Hors d’oeuvres, a photo op with Gilles, and a chance to win a dance with him!

In addition to Gilles, there will be other celebrity guests! Meet celebrity chef Mark Kearney, Scott L. Schwartz (The Ultimate Bad Guy), and Amanda Brown (Dating Diva).

As you know, I’m a big supporter of and fundraiser for Relay for Life. I held several portrait sessions this spring to benefit Relay, sold “Fight Like A Girl” shirts, and I’m continuing to show my support by sponsoring the photography for this event. As the official paparazzo for Saturday night, I’ll be hard at work following Gilles (and his entourage, VIPs, and fans) around at dinner, at The Cider House, and at the after-party. Photos from the event will be available for purchase through my online store, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Relay.

I’m excited to be a part of this star-studded event — and I hope to see you at the party!

For more details and to see a list of the event sponsors, visit PropjetPR.com. To purchase tickets, go to Tickets Unlimited at knoxvilletickets.com.

This shirt is available through Cafepress, and the coolest part about it is that 100% of all t-shirt sales will benefit Kids with Cameras — a wonderful organization that I first learned about through the documentary “Born Into Brothels.”

Kids with Cameras was founded in 2002 by photographer Zana Briski out of her work teaching photography to children in Calcutta’s red-light district. We believe that photography is an effective tool in igniting children’s imagination and building self-esteem. We believe in the power of art to transform lives, for both the artist and the viewer.

Kids with Cameras is a non-profit organization that teaches the art of photography to marginalized children in communities around the world. We use photography to capture the imaginations of children, to empower them, building confidence, self-esteem and hope. We share their vision and voices with the world through exhibitions, books, websites and film. By linking with local organizations, we work to strengthen the children’s education and general well-being, providing financial support through sales of their prints or by developing our own homes with a focus on leadership and the arts.

I’m really grateful to Bobby for coming up with such a wonderful design for the t-shirt. We’re really proud that the Downtown Knoxville Photo Walk has grown from being a social photography event to a socially conscious photography event.

If you’re interested in purchasing this shirt, visit Bobby’s Cafepress store at http://www.cafepress.com/wwpw2009.

Also, there’s still room for more Photo Walkers! Click here to sign up for the walk.