Children's Portrait Exhibit & Reception to Benefit Cope Family Center

Melissa Officer Photography and Cope Family Center have announced a portrait exhibit and reception with proceeds benefitting Cope’s child abuse prevention and family support services.

The event will take place on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 6-8pm at Bougie Napa in the First Street Napa promenade, and will feature a raffle, silent auction, wine and hors d’oeuvres, and the stunning portraits of local kids including some children whose families who benefit from having access to Cope’s services. Following the reception, the photos will be displayed at various downtown businesses through the end of December. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at www.copefamilycenter.org.

This event is a culmination of Melissa Officer Photography’s Simply Me campaign, which was launched this summer. “This campaign was inspired by The Simply Me Portrait Project created by the Photography Business Institute,” explained Officer. “I had the honor of participating in a prestigious national portrait gallery event in Springfield, Illinois in September. Since my submissions featured Napa Valley kids, I chose to partner with Cope Family Center to celebrate and empower children while supporting Cope’s critical work in our community.”

Melissa Officer Photography will continue offering classic black-and-white portrait sessions for kids ages 3-16 through November 5. The fee is $150 and includes entry in the local gallery show, with a portion of the fee benefitting Cope. To book a session, visit www.melissaofficerphotography.com/simplyme.

"We are grateful to Melissa for selecting Cope as the beneficiary of this project, and we are excited to highlight the portraits of the children in our community,” said Harmony Plenty, Cope’s Development and Marketing Director. “We know how important it is to have photos of children in the home. It helps build self-esteem and confidence and promotes a sense of belonging, and we're so happy to be part of a project that's promoting this."

ABOUT COPE FAMILY CENTER

Cope Family Center is a Family Resource Center in downtown Napa that empowers parents, nurtures children, and strengthens communities. They provide parents with the education, resources and support they need to raise children who thrive. Programs include parent education and support services such as home visiting and parenting classes as well as drop-in services such as crisis support, emergency assistance and resource referrals. For more information, visit www.copefamilycenter.org.

ABOUT MELISSA OFFICER PHOTOGRAPHY

Melissa Officer is a Napa native and a fine art photographer who specializes in creating heirloom wall portraits. For more information, visit www.melissaofficerphotography.com.