West Coast Aerial Photography Donates Images to Portraits of Hope

Online, August 3, 2010 (Newswire.com) - West Coast Aerial Photography, Inc., today announced that it is photographing Portrait of Hope's Lifeguard Tower Project and donating these images to the organization. The lifeguard towers, which span 31 miles of beach, have painted side-panels and roofs that will be visible to beach-goers from May to October. The painted roofs, which are difficult to see from the ground, would go unnoticed by most beach-goers, but are clearly visible to aircraft. West Coast Aerial Photography is hoping share their unique perspective and allow others to see the painted roofs of the lifeguard towers through their image donation.

The painted lifeguard towers are part of Portrait of Hope's Summer of Color, "the largest public art project in the U.S., and also one of the largest civic efforts in the world," according to the Portrait of Hope (POH) website. "Portraits of Hope projects integrate civic education and engagement, creative therapy, and the visual arts, providing youngsters and adults with an opportunity to collaborate on high-profile public projects." Over 6,000 youngsters and 2,500 adults from 118 schools, hospitals, youth & social service programs, and creative therapy sessions have participated in the Summer of Color project.

"Having worked in these towers as an LA County lifeguard for years, I'm happy to help Portraits of Hope with their ambitious project," said Mark Holtzman, President of West Coast Aerial Photography, Inc. Mr. Holtzman worked as an lifeguard for over 10 years, beginning as a Santa Monica lifeguard at age 17, which became part of LA County lifeguards two years later, until his late 20s.

The Los Angeles County Lifeguards is the largest professional lifeguard service in the world, operating 31 miles of beach and 72 miles of coastline, and tasked with protecting the estimated 40-million beach-goers who frequent Los Angeles County beaches during the summer months.

The Portraits of Hope "is aimed at enriching the lives of children and adults - many who may be coping with adversity or serious illness - through their participation in creative, educational, high-profile, one-of-a-kind projects," explains the POH official website.