Free Arts for Abused Children
The real heart of Halloween starts with children. Traditions like costumes and pumpkin carving encourage imagination and creativity, while creating memories and bonds between kids, family and friends. The funds collected in 2008 were put to creative use in this way by Free Arts for Abused Children.
Free Arts sparks the creative spirit of abused, homeless and at-risk children and their families to inspire and transform their lives through the power of artistic expression. Free Arts plants the seeds of hope and healing to help children build self-esteem, improve social skills, develop trust with caring adults and express emotions in a positive way. For over 30 years the philosophy behind all Free Arts programs has simply been... "ART HEALS!"
The following is the letter Zombie Pumpkins received after submitting our donation:
Please accept our most heartfelt appreciation for your donation to sponsor "A Spooky Halloween" themed Free Arts Day, at Maryvale on October 30th.
Ghosts, ghouls, volunteers and Maryvale residents alike all joined in at our "Very Spooky" Free Arts Day on Saturday, October 30th at Maryvale, a group home for girls ages 6-17. The generous pumpkin experts at Zombie Pumpkins sponsored this frightful day as we painted pumpkins, crafted Halloween costumes and mummified some brave volunteers. We heard joyful cackles all day long! Thank you to Zombie Pumpkins for sponsoring this ghoulish day!
For more than three decades, Free Arts has delivered meaningful programs that integrate the healing power of arts in the lives of vulnerable children and youth. As children express themselves creatively and interact with caring adult volunteers, they find an outlet for their emotions and their confidence blossoms. Through the efforts of nearly 600 community volunteers who donated 10,000 work hours of service, Free Arts reached 27,733 children in 2009. Your investment will help us work towards the goal of doubling the number of children we work with annually.
Your donation will allow for yards to continue recruiting, screening, training, placing, and supporting community volunteers who work directly with children and families living in crisis. Sculpture, dance, collage, drama, and music are just some of the avenues of creativity Free Arts volunteers used to inspire hope, create understanding and build self-esteem.
The investment that you have made will help thousands of other children use the power of creative expression to overcome the isolation and hopelessness that result from abuse, homelessness, and community violence. Thank you for joining us in inspiring hope and affirming that "ART HEALS!" by donating to Free Arts for Abused Children.
Respectfully,
Karrah R. Lompa
Executive Director