The Colors of Kathi! Starts With Art's 4th Annual Open HouseSaturday, November 9th, 3-6 pm
La Grange Art League 122 Calendar Ave, La Grange, Il Join us for light snacks and drinks. Prints of Kathi's Sunflowers will be available for purchase. A silent auction of donated art from local artists will be held, and 100% of all proceeds will go to Starts With Art. La Grange Art League will also display its Holly Jolly market during the event, with a percentage of sales going to Starts With Art. Can't make the event but want to help Starts With Art? Hit the donate below to contribute to Starts With Art. Can't make the event and want a print? Kathi's 5x7 prints can be purchased by clicking the Buy a Print button below and will be mailed directly to your address. |
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Cultivating a Passion for Art: Inspiring and Educating our Youth
Starts with Art is a tribute to Kathi Parisi, who unfortunately passed away on June 4, 2020. It's a continuation of the program that she started in 2017, to encourage children and teens to develop their creativity and self-expression through art. We aim to achieve this by providing financial assistance to tax-exempt organizations that share our mission and uphold the legacy of the program established by Kathi. Funding decisions are made quarterly in January, March, June, and October, with a maximum request limit of $1000.
KPSWA fosters the love of art in children and teens
by empowering them to develop creativity and self-expression.
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Our goals are to provide comprehensive art education to children and teens, ensuring they have the resources they need to explore their creativity. We support this by supplying art materials that align with our mission, particularly focusing on increasing our impact within the Chicagoland area, especially in socio-economically disadvantaged communities. We aim to establish ongoing partnerships with organizations that share our vision, and we are committed to being responsive to requests that align with our mission, ensuring that we address the needs of those we serve.
KPSWA is a 501(c)3 extension of The LaGrange Art League. |
Your Donations Made the Difference!
Orr Academy High School's Mental Wellness Day
On May 31, 2024, Starts with Art participated in Orr Academy High School's Mental Wellness Day by hosting a tent to demonstrate how art can serve as a powerful outlet for expressing and managing trauma. We were among several vendors, including Rush Hospital and professional counselors, coordinated by school social worker Kevin Jackson, to engage with students.
Throughout the day, students received counseling, learned meditation techniques, participated in walking yoga, and engaged in art therapy. At our tent, students created personalized covers for their journal/sketchbooks using collages made from magazines and various supplied papers. The booth's popularity was so high that additional tables had to be set up to accommodate all the eager participants. The Starts with Art team was amazed by the amount of care, time, and thought these high schoolers invested in their books. Each student was provided with a journal/sketchbook, a glue stick, and a retractable pen with multiple colors. They were also encouraged to take extra magazines and papers to continue working on their books at home.
Orr Academy High School, located on the west side of Chicago on Pulaski, currently lacks any arts programs, including visual arts, theater, music, and radio/TV, due to funding constraints. Your generous donations helped sponsor the art supplies for this mental wellness day, making a significant impact on the students' experience and well-being.
Throughout the day, students received counseling, learned meditation techniques, participated in walking yoga, and engaged in art therapy. At our tent, students created personalized covers for their journal/sketchbooks using collages made from magazines and various supplied papers. The booth's popularity was so high that additional tables had to be set up to accommodate all the eager participants. The Starts with Art team was amazed by the amount of care, time, and thought these high schoolers invested in their books. Each student was provided with a journal/sketchbook, a glue stick, and a retractable pen with multiple colors. They were also encouraged to take extra magazines and papers to continue working on their books at home.
Orr Academy High School, located on the west side of Chicago on Pulaski, currently lacks any arts programs, including visual arts, theater, music, and radio/TV, due to funding constraints. Your generous donations helped sponsor the art supplies for this mental wellness day, making a significant impact on the students' experience and well-being.
Fine Art Scholarships Awarded at Riverside/Brookfield High School
On Thursday, May 16, 2024, Starts With Art attended the Riverside/Brookfield High School Local Scholarship Awards Ceremony. During the event, we proudly awarded $3,500 in college scholarships to students pursuing arts-related programs in higher education. This year's recipients were Matthew Morgan, Isabella Bernacchi, Annabel Krueger, Makala Angshed, Mia Sahagun, and Chloe Slivika. Congratulations to these talented individuals, and best of luck in your future endeavors!
A heartfelt thank you to our generous donors who made these scholarships possible. Your support is instrumental in helping these students achieve their dreams.
A heartfelt thank you to our generous donors who made these scholarships possible. Your support is instrumental in helping these students achieve their dreams.
Art Camp Scholarships
Starts with Art sponsored the tuition for three children to attend Summer Art Camp in La Grange, taught by Heidi Becker and Heidi Peters. The camp offered classes in collage, fiber art, printmaking, and creating fantastic creatures.
These scholarships aim to provide tuition for children passionate about art who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend summer camp. The camps are held in a real artist's studio in La Grange, IL. Your donations make scholarships like these possible, continuing Kathi's legacy. Please consider contributing to support more young artists.
These scholarships aim to provide tuition for children passionate about art who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend summer camp. The camps are held in a real artist's studio in La Grange, IL. Your donations make scholarships like these possible, continuing Kathi's legacy. Please consider contributing to support more young artists.
Art Kit Donations to Share Food Share Love Food Pantry
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Email from Share Food Share Love Food Pantry:
We got them. Thank you so much! Our visitors absolutely love them! John Dumas Administrative Director Share Food Share Love Food Pantry |
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Thank you to our generous supporters...
June 4, 2024, Starts with Art was awarded a $1000 grant from the Prairie Trail Federation through the Wise Men Holiday Tree fundraising effort in a ceremony at the La Grange Methodist Church, followed by a gathering at the Elm Restaurant. It was very special because it was the fourth anniversary of Kathi's passing, and we were allowed to speak about Kathi and our efforts to continue her legacy at this event. Attendees were very moved and acknowledged this at the post gathering.