On August 28-31 local photographers and businesses came together to support our Plano police officers in an event known as Family in Focus. The event offered free portrait sessions to uniformed police officers and their families.
Plano native Ashley Manley came up with the idea for the event after the July 7th shootings in Dallas that left five officers dead. Her own father is a police officer and after the shootings, they realized the last family photos they’d taken together were almost a decade old. Ashley rallied several local photographers together and the first Family in Focus event was held in Dallas on July 21-23.
The response from the Dallas police officers and their families was so positive that Ashley knew she wanted to offer the same opportunity to the officers serving her own community here in Plano. She explained, “With everything that is going on with police officers in our country right now, I think it is so important for them to feel the support of their community.”
At both the Dallas and Plano Family in Focus events, families not only enjoyed free portrait sessions, but local eateries donated food and drinks so that the families got to relax and enjoy a meal with each other. Many nearby businesses also donated prizes that were raffled off at no cost to all the officers who attended. The wife of one police officer said, “I loved this opportunity because it allowed myself and my kids to show their dad and my husband just how much we appreciate everything he and other law enforcement officers do!”
If you are a local photographer or business who would be willing to donate your services or goods for a future Family in Focus event, please email Ashley Manley.
Family in Focus on Facebook >Family in Focus would like to thank the following businesses and individuals who contributed to the Plano event.
Donors of raffle prizes, food or drinks:
Amazeballs
Angela’s at the Crosswalk
Athleta
Barnes & Noble
Central Market
Chuy’s
Cookies By Design
Dillas
Dixie Blue Holsters
Dubs Tea and Water
Dugg Burger
Erbert & Gerberts
Frito Lay
Hunter’s Glen Baptist Church
Kendra Scott
Lockhart Smokehouse
MAC Speed & Strength
Magnolia Market at the Silos
Market Street
Massage Envy
McCoy Paper Company
Oakley
Pipe & Palette
Plano Magazine
Plano Super Bowl
PSL Chess
Puma
Quick Trip
Raising Canes
Rooftop Event Spot
Signarama Frisco
Southern Land Company
Starbucks
Trader Joe’s
The Vested Group
Winners BBQ
Community members that made donations:
Susan Bollinger
Yatavi Nilrach
Jennifer Shurley
Williamson Family
Photographers and volunteers:
Susan Bollinger
Diana Busch
Anna Cavnar
Amy Herfurth
Arielle Humphries
Kalah Jackson
Josh Manley
Jennifer Shertzer
Tim Sporcic
Stephanie Tann
Lauren Vicars
Ken Wesley
Kathryn White
