Photojournalists Tomas Munita And Bryan Denton Selected To Receive Getty Images And Chris Hondros Fund Award At June 7 Benefit And Silent Auction

NEW YORK, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chris Hondros Fund announced today that Chilean photographer Tomas Munita has been chosen to receive the 2013 Getty Images and Chris Hondros Fund Award, and American photographer Bryan Denton has been selected as an award finalist.   

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Formed by Christina Piaia, Chris Hondros's fiancee, with the support of his family, the Chris Hondros Fund advances the work of photojournalists who espouse his legacy and vision, and sponsors fellowships, grantmaking and education to raise understanding of the issues facing reporters in conflict zones. Ms. Piaia, together with Getty Images Vice President for Editorial Imagery Pancho Bernasconi and New York Times Photographer Todd Heisler serve on the Chris Hondros Fund Board of Directors.

"We are grateful to honor Chris' unique ability to bring shared human experiences to light through the spirit of this award," Ms. Piaia said. "Tomas Munita demonstrates exceptional photographic ability coupled with a spirited commitment to the craft of photojournalism. Similarly, Bryan Denton captures both the complexities and daily life of those living in conflict with an unyielding commitment and intellectual curiosity."

Tomas Munita is a documentary photographer with a primary interest on social issues.  He has focused his work in Latin America, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. 

Bryan Denton is a freelance photographer based in Beirut, Lebanon. He began his career covering Arab culture, conflict and social issues after graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Munita will receive a $20,000 grant and Denton will receive a $5,000 grant to support their documentary photography.

The Getty Images and Chris Hondros Fund Award was created to honor Getty Images photojournalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Chris Hondros, who was killed April 20, 2011, in a mortar attack by government forces in Misrata, Libya.

"Chris was dedicated to documenting the compassion, violence and frailty that encompasses so much of our world today. It was through his personal vision and determination that were able to share some of the most powerful images from the large and small events that make up our common humanity," Mr. Bernasconi said. "The Chris Hondros Fund is proud to honor Tomas Munita and Bryan Denton and support their work to create a visual history that brings shared human experiences into the public eye."

The Chris Hondros Fund will host a reception at the New York Public Library (5th Avenue, 42nd Street) on Friday, June 7, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. to present the Getty Images and Chris Hondros Fund Award and a silent auction to benefit the Chris Hondros Fund Fellowship, Grantmaking and Awareness Programs.  To purchase tickets to the Chris Hondros Fund Benefit and Silent Auction, please visit www.chrishondrosfund.org/benefit.

The silent auction will provide the opportunity to bid on an extraordinary collection of photographs, including: Ernst Haas' Tobago Wave, 1968; Milton Greene's 1956 limited edition portrait of Marilyn Monroe; Slim Aarons' Poolside Glamour, 1970; Scout Tukankjian's all-time most-tweeted Obama Victory photograph, and photographs generously contributed by Dave Burnett, Andrea Bruce, Todd Heisler, John Moore, Randy Olson, Brent Stirton, Mario Tama and dozens of other award-winning photojournalists. Donors need not be present to participate; an online auction begins May 22, powered by Paddle8: www.paddle8.com/auctions/chrishondrosfund.

The Chris Hondros Fund is a recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. For more information concerning the Fund, please visit www.chrishondrosfund.org.

Contact: Maria Dias, [email protected], 646-613-4020

SOURCE Chris Hondros Fund