The holiday season can mean a lot of things to many different people. To some it's family, to others it's being thankful for another year of joy, and to youngest among us, it's probably about a jolly guy in a red suit. And this year, for Chevy, it's been about giving back to the community. More specifically, providing hope for kids in at-risk situations by giving them an outlet for their hopes and dreams.

This year, Chevy and celebrity photographer Linda Solomon are jointly sponsoring the 2011 Pictures of Hope Program. Annually, the Pictures of Hope Program provides cameras to kids living in at-risk situations or in homeless shelters. The children then take pictures of their lives and caption each with words about their hopes for America. Solomon says, "Their hopes and dreams captured in quiet moments tell a story that few adults can imagine. When you show children that you care about what they wish for in life, perhaps a child who never felt he or she had self-worth, now will."¹

How does this play out? Well, the pictures and words from the children will be made into greeting cards that can be found at Chevrolet dealerships in participating cities, and customers will have the chance to make a donation to the program. Each dealer will match the donations, which will benefit various charities within the ten cities participating in the program.

And while it may seem like a small piece of a larger puzzle, it's already made a great impact on some of the program's past participants. For example, a young Brittnie took a photograph that expressed her hope to be able to go to college - a dream that would have likely been otherwise impossible. But thanks to her photo and heartfelt words, Brittnie not only moved others, she was, in fact, granted a four-year scholarship to college.

Want to help? Go to http://www.lindasolomonphotography.com/Programs/ to learn more about the program and purchase the greeting cards made by the kids this year.

We could all take a page from Linda Solomon's book to help those around us - and not just during the holidays. Whether or not you choose to contribute to this program, Connell Chevrolet wants to remind you to spread hope this season, wherever you spend your time. If you'd like to learn more about other ways Chevrolet continues to give back to the communities that support them, don't hesitate to contact us or stop in and see us at 2828 Harbor Blvd Costa Mesa, CA 92626 during our regular business hours.

Source: ¹http://www.chevrolet.com/culture/article/pictures-of-hope/