From Family Photos to Fundraising

Covid-19 rocked our world in 2020 (to say the least), but there were people out there creating and doing good under the radar. 

Meet Emily Ballard, local hobby photographer. After learning about a photographer in Boston who was taking porch pictures and raising money for their local Food Bank, Emily decided to embark on a porch project of her own. Emily started the project in March of 2020. The choice of where to donate the money raised was an easy one. The NC Hospitality is close to her heart, as her brother has always been in the industry.  

She posted to social media about the porch project and immediately slots were being filled. She started the project in Raleigh, it soon snowballed and she was traveling all over North Carolina taking pictures and collecting donations. She asked people to donate whatever they could, even if it meant just a couple of dollars.

Later in the year, after losing a good friend, Emily started raising money for the memorial scholarship his family set up with NCSU Wolfpack Club. This was in addition to the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund. She gave people the option of where they wanted their donation to go between the two funds.  She and friends also embarked on other creative ways to raise money for the Memorial Scholarship which included selling custom designed shirts, instagram giveaways, and a birthday challenge of donating $40 on what would have been Andy's 40th bday.

By the end of 2020 Emily had done over 665 sessions including porches, yards and wide open outdoor spaces. Through all her various fundraising efforts Emily was able to raise and collect just shy of $62,000. Emily was able to donate $25,000 to the North Carolina Restaurant Workers Relief Fund, $4,500 to individuals in the industry and $31,000 the Andy Banks Memorial Scholarship. Hugely in part of her contribution to the Andy Banks Memorial Scholarship, it's now a permanent named endowment with the Wolfpack Club, ' Andy Banks Memorial Endowment '

Emily Ballard is an inspiration, proving that change starts at home, all while spreading the joy with her beautiful photos. Send her a message on Instagram or Facebook to schedule a session, and make sure to scroll for some incredible inspiration!

If you would like to donate to the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund, Click Here. 

To donate to the Andy Banks Endowment with the Wolfpack Club, you can call in a payment to 919- 865-1500 or mail a check to: 

Wolfpack Club, PO Box 37100 Raleigh, NC 27627

(Put Andy Banks Endowment in the memo line)

To Purchase a Shirt supporting the Andy Banks Memorial Scholarship, Click Here. 

(Shirts are available for purchase until March 31st, 2021)