By Alesha Capone
Photographer Kristie Dutson has put together a 12 Days of Christmas fundraiser for a good cause.
For the past three years, Dutson – who runs Inspired Portraits in Werribee – has organised a fundraising Christmas raffle involving 12 local businesses.
This year’s raffle will raise funds for the Westgate Community Initiatives Group (WCIG), a not-for-profit employment services provider for people in the west and Geelong.
Dutson said she started the raffle because she wanted to give back to the community and help other businesses.
“I love Christmas, I like being able to help people and, particularly, seeing people smile,” she said.
Dutson said that people could buy raffle tickets online for the chance to win one of 12 products or services donated as prizes by businesses – such as Constant Evolution Personal Training, Absolute Bliss Candles and Sassy Party Hire – which have participated in the raffle every year since it started.
Between Saturday, December 1, and Wednesday, December 12, the prizes will be announced daily on Inspired Portraits’ social media, including Facebook.
Dutson said she decided to donate the funds raised from this year’s raffle to WCIG after meeting the organisation’s community engagement specialist, Annalisa Cannizzaro.
Ms Cannizzaro said that WCIG’s staff were “very humbled” by the gesture.
Raffle tickets cost $1 each or five for $3. The raffle will be launched on December 1 at 8am. Search for “Inspired Portraits 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway 2018” on eventbrite.com.au for details.
