About Pinups for Purpose:
The 2010 Pinups for Purpose Calendar featuring Bay Area breast cancer survivors is the culmination of the vision of Jeanette Vonier, the San Rafael-based creative force behind Elegant Images Photography.
Specializing in fine art portraiture of families, individuals and romantic boudoir, Vonier conceived the idea of featuring breast-cancer survivors in a playful and attractive manner when inspired by the pinup styles of Gil Elvgren and the internationally renowned illustrator, Alberto Vargas, in photography.
The portrayal of these courageous women and one man, all breast cancer survivors, posing with humor--and a touch of sexiness--harks back to a more innocent and gentle time in our American history, the Forties and Fifties. The execution of the calendar project took a year to complete, and its purpose is to raise funds to benefit Bay Area Breast Cancer Charities.
"Being able to combine my passion for photography with my personal commitment to support breast-cancer causes in the Bay Area community is the fulfillment of a dream," enthuses Vonier.
She cites her own mother, a two-time breast cancer survivor, as her major catalyst in becoming a dedicated volunteer working for cancer-related causes in the community. "By creating these perfect images around women and men who had survived cancer, I could collaborate with them individually to project their own uniqueness and beauty. It was pure joy for me to work with each of these courageous people, and I value the trust they placed in me."
Calendar Cover Model Lisa Woods, a self-declared Army brat who moved around a lot during childhood, holds an M.S. from the University of California San Francisco and works as a staff nurse in Intensive Care Nursery and Pediatrics Department at Kaiser, Santa Rosa says it has been eight years since her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer.
She states that her experience has taught her "never to take anything or anyone in your life for granted." A Sonoma County resident, she volunteers with several breast cancer organizations and counsels newly diagnosed women.
In addition to supporting the Bay Area Breast Cancer Charities with the sale of the calendars, the non-profit set up by Vonier plans to make donations to these special groups as well: To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation and the Sutter North Bay Women's Health Center. "We set a goal to raise $30,000 from the sale of calendars in 2010," states Vonier.
"The single price for a calendar is $15, however, we have developed ways for other Bay Area charities to sell the calendar, and earn revenues to fill their coffers for their particular cause as well."
Pinups for Purpose is currently under the non-profit umbrella of MarinLink. For additional information, visit www.pinupsforpurpose.com
