The most important issues of our time – the most important events in history – many of us can recall the photographs in our heads and the stories that they brought to life. Pictures can capture our hearts, make us laugh, or provide a glimpse into a sobering reality of human actions and consequences through a language we can all understand.
The role of today’s photojournalist has never been more critical. Through grants, scholarships, and special projects, The Alexia Foundation is committed to supporting the work of photojournalists and their powerful ability to communicate through images and move each of us forward to a better understanding of the social injustice that exists around us.
The Alexia Foundation promotes the power of photojournalism to give voice to social injustice. Whether documenting sex slavery in the United States, the atrocities of civil war in Sudan, the impact of the violent drug wars in Mexico, a loved one struggling with Alzheimer’s or the struggles of those living in poverty around the world, photojournalists shine a light on issues and focus attention on things that might otherwise go unnoticed, serving as catalysts for change.
Inspired by their dear daughter and sister Alexia Tsairis who was innocently killed at the age of 20 during the 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the Tsairis family have worked to build Alexia’s legacy as a photographer through The Alexia Foundation. From its beginning as a memorial fund at Alexia’s alma mater Syracuse University, The Alexia Foundation has grown to become one of the most well-known and respected awards in the field of photojournalism, earning recognition and awards from World Press Photo, the Emmy News and Documentary Awards, the duPont-Columbia University Award, and a Pulitzer Prize; just to name just a few. The Alexia Foundation has given $700,000 to 110 photography students and 18 professional photojournalists producing 128 funded projects over the last 24 years.
“The most important piece of advice I can give is to always carry your camera. In a new place, you never know what’s going to happen.” – Alexia Tsairis
The Alexia Foundation’s reputation for excellence and activism provides an outstanding platform for reaching diverse audiences. Photojournalists supported by The Alexia Foundation have had their work featured in prestigious media outlets such as National Geographic, The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, LA Times, The New York Times, and many more.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support the mission of The Alexia Foundation or how the work of the foundation can raise awareness of your organization, please visit their website at http://www.alexiafoundation.org.
