Hope is More Than Wishful Thinking

Dear Amazing Hopeful Shutter Sisters,

It is with so much joy and happiness that we are writing this morning to tell you that the Shutter Sisters' Picture Hope Dream Assignment entry won the $50,000 Grand Prize for the Microsoft/Lenovo sponsored photography contest!

Can you believe it???

We're crying, we're laughing, we're in a state of disbelief. We've been fighting and working and hoping and dreaming for a moment like this our entire lives. And it's here.

Because of you. Because of us. Because we hoped. Because we believed.

Thank you Microsoft and Lenovo for choosing us out of a brilliant group of finalists. Thank you for seeing our ideas and believing in our dream and for understanding that without hope, none of us stands a fighting chance.

Shutter Sisters, take this win straight into your heart, because it is yours. The way you find life and hope and beauty and truth through that lens every day matters--every bit as much as the stories we will find from women around the world who love and live the way you do--with all their hearts, one tiny incredible moment at a time.

Thank you for believing. Thank you for working so hard at what you do. Thank you for hoping.

As they say in Rwanda, Turikumwe. We are together.

With so much joy,

Tracey, Stephanie and Jen

photo by Stephanie

Comments

[jag]

This is wonderful!! Hope wins, again and again... Where would we be without it?? Let the adventure begin! (Or should I say, let it CONTINUE... :-))

Sending you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!
jag xox

[Misty Sparks]

Wonderful!! Congratulations :)

[Kelly]

WOW! Congratulations! This is so incredible!

[soeurs du jour]

woot. goosebumps. excited. our post tomorrow will be a post of hope.

[Joscie]

Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations! I am so proud and excited for your win! :)

[Christina]

Oh wow! Wow, wow, wow! How awesome and exciting and inspiring. Can't wait to see the dream become reality.

[Petchy]

WOW! That is SO fantastic!!! Congrats!

[Natalie Norbut]

Oh my heavens!!! My eyes are so watery with pride right now! Way to go and here is to your future endevors!

[Kylie]

Wow! Yah congratulations! :-)

[Madeline Rains]

: ) I am so overjoyed for you both! It is well deserved and makes me want to look for hope in even more places than I already do. I can't wait to witness your journey here.

[Lisa]

Congratulations!

[Jane]

I'm so VERY happy for you all, and will be praying your journey is a blessed one, and hope to see it documented well. :-) How exciting and what a great adventure lies ahead to give HOPE!

[vivienne]

i'm crying anything-is-possible tears and feeling like we really did all win!

[Joelle]

HOORAY!!!! I cannot think of a more deserving group. I know the hope you spread all over the world will expand (at least!) ten-thousand fold. Congratulations to you all. Good luck with the planning!

[Betzography]

CONGRATULATIONS!!
What an amazing opportunity. Please know that with each step of your journey you have a sisterhood embracing you with all our hearts. You deserve this... the world deserves this and I know it will be forever changed because of HOPE!!

[Elaine]

I can't wait to see the updates from this journey! BIG, FAT, congrats!

[Alyssa]

Wha-hooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Heather]

OMG. OMG. I think imma gonna have to...

*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!*

[Tripping the Light Fantastic]

Yabadabadooooo!
Congratulations ladies - that's terrific news. Way to go Shutter Sisters!

[gonzomama]

congratulations!
can't wait to see this story of hope unfold - all the best to you both!

[Alicia]

CONGRATULATIONS!! Cannot wait for your journey to begin and to following through the photos you take!

[renee @ FIMBY]

So much love and congratulations to you all.

[Catherine]

Congratulations! I find such inspiration in your blog. I can't wait to see what ya'll do with this dream assignment!

[camerashymomma]

OH MY GOD! i knew it, HOPE PREVAILS! this is belief, this is beautiful, this is such good news.
many congratulations!

[yvonne carns]

Sweet! That's the best news I've heard all week! Congrats!!!
I can't wait to see your work when you're finished.