The Charity Model Search is the main fundraiser of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. The Charity Model Search (CMS) began in 2009, shortly after I had experienced my second loss.  Even as a grief-stricken mother losing two boys within a year of each other, I thought this fundraiser was a brilliant idea for NILMDTS.  When I first learnd of this fundraiser, I was not employed or part of NILMDTS in any way, except that they had provided images of my first son.

This fundraiser is vital to NILMDTS for a number of reasons.

1. CMS promotes an opportunity for volunteer photographers.  A number of the photographers who participate in CMS are also NILMDTS volunteer photographers.  They take numerous sessions for NILMDTS families.  Participating in CMS gives another opportunity for them to support NILMDTS in a different way.
2. CMS is a recruitment tool for new photographers to get involved with NILMDTS.  Many of the photographers who participate in CMS then become volunteers for NILMDTS.
3. CMS educates families who may have never needed NILMDTS or have heard of NILMDTS.  It is important the general public knows about NILMDTS.  Unfortunately, they may encounter someone who may need our services and they will be able to tell someone about NILMDTS.  It breaks my heart when I talk with a mom who says to me, “I found out about NILMDTS a week too late.”
4. CMS celebrates the beauty of all children.  We do keep the CMS website separate so if a parent does not want to see images of the participants, they do not have to see them.

The most IMPORTANT reason this fundraiser is vital to NILMDTS is that over the past four years of this fundraiser, we have raised a quarter of a million dollars.  This translates into an additional 2500 families we have served that may not have otherwise been served.

In order to manage thousands of volunteer photographers and have an extensive online search to find a photographer, it costs about $100 per session.  This does not take into account the generosity of the photographers who graciously give of their time, talent, and many out-of-pocket costs to provide the sessions.

If you are able to support CMS in any way, please help us!  You can become a sponsor, donate prizes, sign up as a photographer, or vote.  Please visit www.charitymodelsearch.org.

Thank you for your support!

Gina Harris

Executive Director

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