'Someone You Should Know'

Just a quick note to let you all know that we had a tremendous opportunity to work with Harry Porterfield from Channel 7 (ABC) in Chicago. Mr. Porterfield is a feature reporter who created the series 'Someone You Should Know' which airs every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 .m. during the ABC7 News. During our photo shoot at Children's Memorial Hospital on December 3rd, he and his film crew did an interview with Genette and I which is scheduled to air Tuesday, December 9th.

This is our first Chicago media coverage and we're very excited about this wonderful opportunity for exposure and potential for fundraising. It couldn't come at a better time! We are grateful to the Public Relations department at Children's for arranging this interview and to Katie Devereux and the Child Life Staff for their support of our organization. We also want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Laurie Hobbs for helping us prepare for the interview and Marcy Lemaster for volunteering to assist with the photo shoot. - Synthia Miller

Nonprofit Heartworks photographers you should know

By - Harry Porterfield

December 9, 2003 — When the portrait session ends this youngster will go back to medical treatment in a room not far away because a photographic studio has been set up at Children's Memorial Hospital. Working without pay Genette Parsons of Dallas and Chicagoan Synthia Miller take the pictures.

"Having a profound love for children this was a natural opportunity for us. We started doing some pro bono work for some kids that were sick and found there is a tremendous need for what we were doing," said Syndi Miller, photographer.

In the response to that need, the two created Heartworks Photography Inc., a non-profit organization to make portraits of hospitalized kids at no cost to them or their families. Often, indications of medical problems are digitally removed.

"We have sent out letters requesting donations from our friends and our family most of them know what we are doing and are very supportive and very generous," said Genette Parsons, photographer. "But the rest of it our husbands are helping us out."

Syndi and Genette started their organization one year ago and since that time they have taken photographs of a nearly a thousand special needs and hospitalized youngsters.

Vanessa Malvaze, 17, was photographed on two occasions.
"When I first did, my Mom got it and she really liked it and then went to get a frame," said Vanessa Malvaze.

Their work takes them to seven cities across the country to hospitals with waiting lists for their services

"It makes them like other kids which when you have a chronic illness or are in the hospital or in and out you're set apart from other kids," said Katie Deveurx, hospital spokesperson.

" I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be with these children. You can't come in here and leave feeling sorry for yourself," said Parsons.

Harry Porterfield

"Harry Porterfield's "Someone You Should Know" airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays during ABC7 News at 5 p.m. Porterfield created the series in 1977 at WBBM-TV and has since then profiled some 2,000 Harry Porterfield joined ABC 7 News in September of 1985 after 21 years at WBBM-TV in Chicago. At ABC 7 Chicago, Porterfield is a featured news reporter appearing on various newscasts and serving occasionally as a substitute anchor."

"He is known for the continuing series of human-interest "Someone You Should Know" reports which air Tuesdays and Thursdays on the 5 p.m. newscast. Porterfield created the series in 1977 at WBBM-TV and over the years has profiled some 2,000 subjects from individuals to organizations. He also hosts "People, Places & Things," a series of locally produced half-hour specials featuring prominent African Americans who have achieved honor and respect in the community. Read more about People, Places, & Things with Harry Porterfield."

"Prior to that, Porterfield, a former army sergeant was a gospel and jazz disc jockey for radio station WKNX in Saginaw, Mich. where he wrote all of the commercial announcements. During his tenure at WBBM-TV, Porterfield anchored the hour long 6 p.m. news Monday through Friday and was a reporter/host of the Emmy award winning public affairs series "Channel Two, The People." He was also one of the hosts on the top rated magazine program "Two On Two.""

"Porterfield has received 10 Emmy awards for his news reporting and for his features on "Channel Two The People" and for "Two On Two." He was honored with the duPont-Columbia Journalism Award for his "Someone You Should Know" series. In 1996 the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin presented him with an archdiocesan plaque citing the "Someone" program as an outstanding TV series."

"Other honors include receiving the first Outstanding Journalist Award ever presented by the Chicago Association of Black Journalists, the Distinguished Journalism Award from the Coalition for United Community Action, the Black Book Award as an outstanding black professional in communications, the Richard J. Daley Police Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Award from the Gary, Ind. NAACP, the Kinney Circle Guest of Honor Award from the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, the Media Fairness Award from Operation PUSH, the Distinguished Service Award from the Black Data Processors, a Certificate of Merit from the National Catholic Association for Broadcasters and Allied Communications, and many other awards and citations."

"He was inducted into the Chicago Television Academy's Silver Circle in 1998. Porterfield is also a winner of the 1999 Studs Terkel Award for journalism presented by the Community Media Workshop and is the recipient of an award for outstanding community service from the Calumet Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Porterfield has been designated an honorary state representative in the Indiana General Assembly."

"Porterfield is a board member of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, an honorary board member of the Merit Music Program, a member of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity and a member of Chicago Federation of Musicians. A violinist, Porterfield is a member of the Annual Do-It-Yourself Messiah Orchestra and the Chicago Bar Association Orchestra."

"Porterfield holds a degree in chemistry from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. and a law degree from DePaul University in Chicago."