Fayetteville photographer lends talents to Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
Fayetteville photographer Andrew Kilgore found his way to give back to the community.
On Sunday, Kilgore teamed up with the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Washington County to take portraits for 12 recipients and their families.
“ Most of these people don’t have the money to have pictures taken of them and their families, ” Kilgore said. “ And by the time they’re at a place when they can spend money on a professional photographer, their kids are all grown up. ”
Kilgore said the idea came from a discussion with friends two or three years ago, but this is the first year it has all come together. He said the main reason he wanted to do it was because he respected the single parent scholarship recipients a lot.
“ It’s one thing to work through college and it’s just you, ” Kilgore said. “ It’s another thing when you’re doing it with a couple of kids. ”
Parents got to have their photos taken with their children free of charge. When the pictures get developed, Kilgore will pick the best one and provide them with a high-quality, 8-inch by 10-inch framed photo for free.
“ This is just something I really wanted to do, ” Kilgore said.
The scholarship fund was established in 1990 in recognition of the severe impoverishment of single-parent families in Arkansas. Eligible students receive $ 500 a semester.
Farmington resident Amy Locke is a student at the University of Arkansas majoring in opera and vocal music. She’s also the mother of a little girl named Molly and one of the scholarship fund’s recipients who had their photos taken by Kilgore. She said it was a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.
“ I figure, ‘ It’s a famous photographer; what other chance would I have ?’” Locke said. “ Plus, we haven’t had our photo taken together in awhile. ”
Kilgore has been a serious photographer since 1970. According to his Web site, www. andrewkilgore. com, he has produced several touring exhibits, including “ Fayetteville Townfolk” and “ Arkansas People. ” He has also taken pictures of former President Bill Clinton.
Janet Morgan and her daughter, Elizabeth, were “ thrilled” that Kilgore took their pictures.
“ We haven’t had one in a long time, ” Morgan said. “ And the thought of Andrew Kilgore and his team doing this was wonderful. ”
Morgan said she has been blessed by the generosity of others ever since she decided to go back to school, and that Kilgore’s photographs were just another example of that.
“ It’s more fuel to give back to the community what I’ve been given, ” Morgan said.
Kilgore said he was just happy he got to help some people who, to him, are modern day “ heroes. ”
