Page 11 - The Decorative Painter Spring 2014

Chapter Snapshots
CHAPTER PREsiDEnT DonATEs PAinTBRusHEs
DECORATIVE ARTISTS GUILD OF SOUTHWESTERN OHIO
The Decorative Artists Guild of Southwestern Ohio’s president, Marilyne Fitzgerald, generously donated five hundred dollars’ worth of Loew-Cornell paintbrushes to We Care Arts.
We Care Arts, a nonprofit organization located in Kettering, Ohio, provides manual arts therapy workshops for physically, mentally, and emotionally impaired individuals. The program helps the We Care Arts students enhance their self-esteem and teaches them job skills. This organization reaches out to those in need of therapy while recovering from stroke or other serious injury, those suffering from depression or schizophrenia, and those with developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome and autism.
In addition to various painting classes, We Care Arts offers workshops on drawing, ceramics, jewelry making, and much more. Because the organization always has a wish list of art supply items, they were very grateful to receive such a large donation from Fitzgerald.
PEnnsYLvAniA CHAPTER sEnDs oRnAMEnTs
To AFGHAnisTAn
HILARY FELINSKI, PENN’S WOODS PAINTERS
Rose Bellavia, a member of Penn’s Woods Painters chapter in Mechanicsburg, Pa., wanted to send holiday cheer to her grandson, Christian, and his fellow soldiers, who are currently serving in Afghanistan. Rose and several fellow PWP members were already in the habit of meeting each month to paint ornaments, so she knew she could count on their help. Of course, the “ornament class gals” were more than willing to assist her.
The group of painters gladly met one Monday in October to
help Rose accomplish her mission, while others who could not attend painted from home. Rose’s idea was to paint “Santa’s Soldiers” ornaments for her grandson and his entire unit. Thanks to Rose and many of her PWP partners, more than thirty festive ornaments were created that night.
By late October, a loving grandmother’s mission was complete and the painted holiday ornaments were ready to fly to Afghanistan, just in time for the 2013 holiday season. A very grateful group of painters was able to extend a thank-you to some of our country’s soldiers, in a very unique way.
Your fellow PWP painters thank you, Rose, for inviting us to help you with
this mission! In addition, Rose wishes
to thank those chapter members who helped paint the ornaments for Christian’s unit, providing the soldiers with a little something extra from home.
Thank you to all who have served and who are serving in our armed forces. Each day we are grateful to you for fighting for our freedom.
DEcOrAtIvEPAINtErS.OrG
The Decorative Painter
• ISSUE NO. 1, 2014 9