Students in the SMILE program

This past fall, the James Alan Cox Foundation donated several gently-used high-quality 35 mm and digital cameras to the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin. These are to be used for the museum’s program SMILE. Offered twice a year for students ages 11 – 19, the program is a series of 35mm photography and darkroom workshops. Participants focus on the art and science of photography while gaining an awareness of cultural pride. The program is offered free of charge. With the gift of the Foundation’s cameras, the museum can make sure that each child has equipment to use. With the addition of the digital cameras, the program can also begin to expand its focus to include training in the digital medium.

Many thanks to all of the people who donated cameras to the Foundation. They are being put to good use!

Camera donors:
Steve Bodinet
Elizabeth Hawkins
Becky and Richard Herrington
Traci Kuhfuss
Mary Beth and Jeff Payne
David Pena
Diane and Stan Spence
Karen and Larry Turner
Vivienne and Bill Wardle

Arizona State University Editing Bay

Alan and Barbara Cox in front of the new Walter Cronkite School editing bay

Jim loved his college, Arizona State University, and was particularly proud of its journalism school, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The school recently moved to a wonderful new, state-of-the-art building in downtown Phoenix, in the center of the city's media market. With six stories and 223,000 square feet of space, it is as high tech and advanced as any professional TV station. The school's program, with its hands-on, practical approach to journalism, started Jim on his career in the early 90s, and gave him a solid foundation in the industry he so loved. Jim's family therefore thought it was appropriate to give back to his school and help as many students as possible with their own careers. In the summer of 2009, The James Alan Cox Foundation purchased an editing bay at the school. With this contribution, hundreds of students each year will have access to the latest equipment and technology. It is a gift that will provide opportunities for ASU students for years to come.