March 4, 2010, 10:38 am

Your help is needed to help high-risk foster care youth in Texas.

Art with Heart received a request from Jorge Sanchez, MSW Clinician at Southwest Key Programs, a nonprofit in Austin, TX that helps youth by providing a stable and positive environment to turn young lives around. Because of their work, thousands of youth have been diverted from prisons, jails, and institutions, enabling them to stay at home with their families and out of trouble.

Their new Community Connections Program serves bilingual (Spanish) youth who were recently released from a detention facility.

Formerly a social worker with Casey Family Programs, Sanchez received Chill & Spill training last year. Says Sanchez, “I found the books to be very effective in getting foster youth to express themselves.” He continues, “I plan to run a Chill & Spill workshop at our center every Wednesday at 6pm. Many of these youth are gifted at drawing and writing, but just don’t have the words to express themselves.”

The only catch is that he doesn’t have the budget to be able to afford to bring the program to the kids. Would you be willing to sponsor 24 books? If so, please go to http://artwithheartshop.org to purchase the books on his behalf and have them sent to: Jorge A. Sanchez, SW Key, Community Connections Programs, 3017 S. 10th Street, McAllen, TX  78503.

February 19, 2010, 6:24 pm

What a wonderful evening and a great way of benefiting the children that Art with Heart serves. 300 people attended the Exotic Wines Festival on February 2nd, which featured some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest boutique wineries. Guests also got to get a sneak peek of Teatro ZinZanni’s newest show. Many thanks to the Exotic Wines Festival event producer Seattle Uncorked, the 25 participating wineries, silent auction donors, event attendees and volunteers for making the fun-filled evening such a great success.

Participating Wineries:
Andrake Cellars, Airfield Estates, Animale*, Bunnell Family Cellar, Fallobst, Gamache Vintners*, Gilbert Cellars*, Ginkgo Forest Winery, Kalamar Winery
Kana Winery*, Kestrel Vintners, McCrea Cellars, NHV — Naches Heights Vintners*, Northwest Cellars*, NW Totem Cellars, Pacific Rim Winemakers*, Palouse Winery*, Reininger Winery*, Smasne Cellars, Sorensen Cellars, Sparkman Cellars, Syncline, Walter Dacon*, Willis Hall, Wilridge Winery*, and Zerba Cellars

Silent Auction Donors:
Vashon Air, Great Harvest Bread Company, Sheraton Seattle Hotel, Swirl Wine Bar, Teatro ZinZanni, and The Westin Seattle

Art with Heart’s work is made possible with generous donations from companies, organizations, and people, like you. Go to artwithheart.org/help to see ways that you can help further the work of Art with Heart.

*Also donated wine for the silent auction

December 18, 2009, 2:24 pm

Talese Heckler is professional artist, designer and teacher in Seattle. She’s also been a friend to Art with Heart for several years. She recently decided that in 2010, she wants to give 10% of all proceeds from her “Heart Art” series sales to help the efforts of Art with Heart.

We had a chance for some Q&A with Talese and here is what she had to say:

How did you get involved with Art with Heart?

I met Steffanie (the founder) about 6 years ago at a holiday dinner. Since our first meeting, we’ve run into each other at various times – I was a co-captain at the breakfast and have donated a percentage of my sales in the past. After a while, I began to feel like a fair-weather friend and wanted to do something more routinely, which is how I decided to donate a percentage of sales in 2010.

Why did you choose Art with Heart as the beneficiary?

Their work has so much integrity and passion, and I have been lucky to see the organization grow and get stronger each year. I wanted to support the misson – what Steffanie is doing is so fabulous. The idea of giving back to support the community – especially youth – is really a team effort. Anything I can do to foster that is beneficial.

In your own experience, do you see that the use of art can be therapeutic?

Absolutely – any time you are experiencing, producing or learning about art, there is a natural connection with yourself. My own personal teaching style is to first create a safe space for the artist, then provide guidance and support to help them go deeper into areas of their inner self to help them connect and heal.

Are you planning more hearts to add to the series?

Oh, yes! I’m always painting hearts. Its an ongoing series of mixed media – I use fabrics, found objects and wire in addition to the paintings.

If people want to see or purchase your artwork, what should they do?

There will be a February launch for the Hearts series at my studio in West Seattle and I’m planning a show in Queen Anne for the early spring. Also, I have various shows around town, as well as a new website. People can contact me through the site. In the future, I hope to create a way for people from out of town to make purchases through the website. For those of you interested in seeing Talese’s work or finding out more about her upcoming show, please visit her website at www.taleseheckler.com.

Thank you Talese for taking the time to talk with us!

December 7, 2009, 4:02 pm

Hotel 1000 really knows how to throw a party!

The kick-off celebration of their “12 Days of Comfort, Joy & Cheer”  came to life with a fashion show and live auction, which raised over $8,000 to support Art with Heart’s programs to help children in crisis.

The evening began with snowflakes that fell outside the doors. Guests enjoyed scrumptious hors d’ourves from  BOKA KITCHEN + BAR.The auction offerings ranged from a weekend away to Napa Valley to tickets to see Oprah in Chicago!

The celebration continues through the rest of the month with 12% of the proceeds from the sale of the 12 Days hotel packages, spa treatments, BOKA menu items and gift cards that will be donated to Art with Heart.

Hotel 1000 is also  featuring its second annual 12 Days Shopping Passport Program with participating West Edge neighborhood boutiques and specialty retailers giving a 12% donation to the charity on purchases made this month. For more information, please visit Hotel 1000.

, 3:28 pm

We’d like to thank the Sammamish Club for their recent donation of over $5,000! Art with Heart was chosen as the beneficiary of The Sammamish Club’s first-ever community-building fundraiser. The month long event would not have been possible without the efforts of several amazing staff members who worked diligently to organize a series of activities in which Club instructors and members donated their services and activity fees.

The fundraising efforts culminated with an Art with Heart weekend, which featured a mini-triathlon, a children’s art night, a raffle with fabulous prizes, and an open house with a wonderful selection of wine and appetizers.

Thank you so much to John McKinnon, who inspired and paved the way for this first fundraiser, which will now become an annual event. Thank you also to the Sammamish Club Staff and Club Members who worked to make this such a successful event!

For more information about the Sammamish Club, located in Issaquah, visit them online. http://www.sammamishclub.com/index.htm

November 16, 2009, 7:08 pm

Art with Heart invites you to join us at an

Exclusive Art Angels Reception

At Hotel 1000, Seattle’s premiere luxury boutique hotel
Benefiting children in crisis through Art with Heart’s Programs

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

VIP Guest Reception in the Grand Suite begins at 5:30 pm

General Admission begins at 6:30 pm

Hotel 1000’s second annual 12 Days of Comfort, Joy & Cheer is being kicked off with an Exclusive VIP Reception in Hotel 1000’s Grand Suite. The evening offers VIP Guests specialty cocktails, festive appetizers from BOKA KITCHEN + BAR, as well as get an opportunity to pre-bid on fabulous auction items that benefit Art with Heart, such as:

A Premiere Napa Valley travel experience to the Bardessono in Yountville • Destination packages to Willows Lodge in Woodinville, Woodmark on the Lake and Cave B at SageCliffe •
Private dinner experiences with local chefs • Fine Art • Trip to see Oprah!

In addition to the private reception, VIP guests will enjoy a spectacular fashion show orchastrated by The Finerie and Gene Juarez, featuring unique items from West End neighborhood boutiques and specialty retailers. Please join us, along with your friends and family, for this wonderful opportunity to kick off the holidays and support Art with Heart’s work with high-risk youth.

♥

Tickets are only available online at Brown Paper Tickets

$150 Exclusive Art Angels VIP Reception (Code: ANGEL)
$40 General Admission

For more information, please contact us at info@artwithheart.org or 206.362.4047

November 15, 2009, 3:45 pm

“The best thing about Chill & Spill is that it lets me write what’s flying around in my head so I can see it more clearly.” ~ Teen in  C&S Workshop

“Chill & Spill helped me through a lot of stuff. It wasn’t just an ordinary journal where you just write your feelings down. Instead of just writing stuff down and reading it over, it actually had some stuff to tell you after what you told it.” ~ Kayla, Age 18

Through your generous contribution, Art with Heart will have the power to help teens dealing with physical, sexual or emotional neglect, abuse or violence. Unresolved trauma and grief can show up as behavioral issues both at home and at school and can adversely affect relationships.

A gift of $150 sends a package of Chill & Spill books plus art supplies to local teens experiencing crisis, to ease and unravel the uncertainty of the chaos in their lives. Through your donation of “Chill & Spill,”  you will create a safe place where these teens can share their understanding of their past life experiences and work through their feelings of pain and loss in a positive and constructive manner.

Visit Art with Heart’s website today to make your contribution!

October 26, 2009, 12:10 pm

This week is Art with Heart week, according to Rahzo, the maker of stylin’ sustainable bamboo tee shirts and more!

In honor of AwH Week, they will double donations on all apparel purchases through October 31st. Go online and check them out!

ABOUT RAHZO:
Rahzo carries a sustainable line of organic cotton and bamboo shirts that are produced in renewable-energy, wind-powered, eco-friendly, carbon-neutral facilities, with sustainable processes wherever applicable, a low water footprint, and low-impact farming practices.

Garments are produced with the highest standards for ethical, monitored labor practices; production of our garments is independently audited by the Fair Wear Foundation, which exists to promote fair labor conditions in the clothing industry.

They are also an online community for people to share and purchase creative works to benefit nonprofit organizations. Rahzo’s exclusive tee shirt artwork and coffee package designs are submitted by creative professionals worldwide.

October 8, 2009, 8:47 am

TONIGHT
Thursday, October 8

Artist’s Reception
Capital Hill Arts Walk

Join local artist Justin Hillgrove for a showing of his imaginative Imps and Monsters paintings at Whimsy Home Decor on Thursday Oct. 8th from 5–8pm during the Capitol Hill Arts Walk. Stop on by and enjoy wine and snacks while you view Justin’s art. Whimsy is located on 14th and Pine in Capitol Hill (1535 – 14th Avenue, Seattle • ph: 206-324-4679). Paintings will be on display from October 4–11.

Ten percent of all Justin’s sales will be donated to Art with Heart to help us help more children through the power of creativity!

October 7, 2009, 10:16 am

What a wonderful way to start the morning!

300 bright-eyed guests filled the Grand Ballroom for Art with Heart’s third annual “Color of Hope Benefit Breakfast” on Tuesday, September 29. Photos of children’s smiling faces filled the lobby and hand-made flowers filled the ballroom with feelings of hope and happiness, as  guests learned about the meaningful way in which Art with Heart has been helping youth in crisis.

Benefit Breakfast Committee Chair Ame Lewis kicked the morning off by acknowledging the contributions of the sponsors and donors, highlighting the generosity of the Purple Heart sponsor, Marler Clark, whose outstanding support since 2004 has allowed Art with Heart to reach thousands of children through its therapeutic books and programs.

To see a full listing of all the donors, please visit artwithheart.org/events/coh-heroes.

Art with Heart’s fundraising goal was $85,000. The breakfast benefit serves as the organization’s only major fundraiser for the year. Although the goal was not reached, we raised close to $70,000 in gifts and pledges, which is remarkable given the state of the economy.

Board President Madzy Besselaar branded the event a success in other ways, saying, “Even though we haven’t meet our financial goal yet, this has still been a wonderful event that inspired and moved those who attended. For those who were unable to be there, you still have the opportunity to help us reach our original goal with your online donation.”

At the event, Steffanie Lorig, Founder and Executive Director, shared highlights from a year-long evaluation study on the positive effects of Chill & Spill on high-risk youth (which you can read about on an upcoming blog post).

Our keynote speakers were George Gonzalez, Deputy Director from Casey Family Programs, and Stephanie Collier, mom and Art with Heart volunteer.

George spoke about his observations about the youth in foster care who have been helped by Art with Heart’s “Chill & Spill” program. Said George, “If it’s raining outside, I can’t make it stop, but I can give kids like Tina and Mikey an umbrella to try to help them stay dry. And really, that’s what Chill & Spill helps us do… give them something that can teach them how to cope, how to connect and how to explore their identities and emotions in a safe and healthy way.”

Stephanie shared her story of her son, Patrick’s, journey through leukemia and how Oodles of Doodles transformed their hospital experience and gave both Patrick and his brother a way of expressing the sorrow and fear they both felt during his illness. Stephanie also told the audience that after Patrick passed away, she became a volunteer for Art with Heart, bringing the “Chill & Spill” program to a group of girls in a residential treatment center and the transformation she observed, “These C&S workshops gave the girls a way to work through their pain; it gave them a voice and a vehicle to get out all the junk inside of them and not have to hold it all in. To an outsider, it might have appeared that the girls were just drawing, but what we all knew was that we were communicating, connecting and giving voice to what was inside of them.”

Board member Bob Bowen reminded us that “Your investment today is far less expensive than what happens to a child who doesn’t get help early-on in life.” Please, keep those donations coming! We are confident we can still make our goal and provide a solid base for Art with Heart to be able to reach more children in the coming year.

Click here to see more photos (by Kristi Lloyd) that reveal the joyous spirit of the morning.