Gary Sinise Foundation

Every Christmas I get to round out the year by working for the Gary Sinise Foundation, documenting their Snowball Express. I love getting to do it as my last big job every year. It's a feel good way to close out the year. There are long, exhausting days that wear you down, but you're constantly surrounded by so much joy and kind people. It's a privilege to be part of something that gives back to these military families who've lost someone in the service.

The past few years, due to COVID, Snowball express has been in a digital form. The foundation sends out packages to each of the families and they have interactive events online that allow them to still connect with other families they've met through the foundation. It was a jam packed one-day event this year, where I spent the day with a family in San Diego as they participated in the event. Hopefully next year Snowball with be an in-person event at Disney World again, as it's hard to replace an event of that scale digitally, but only time will tell.

The night before, I also worked for the foundation as they participated in an event in Port Hueneme, where Gary Sinise held a private concert with John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting fame. I certainly didn't expect Ondrasik to be part of my 2021, but it was a really cool surprise to hear him perform live and to meet him.

Here's some of my favorite images from both those events.