Our School Year is Ending...

Glazed hearts, created by students at Patapsco Middle School, waiting to be fired in the kiln

As the school year comes to a close, I am busy firing as many hearts as I possibly can to sell at The Sideshow in Baltimore in support of Art Creation Foundation for Children in Jacmel, Haiti.

We have had a very productive year! We raised over $1,200 through the sale of the hearts, every penny of which went entirely to the kids in Jacmel. At one dollar per heart, that means well over one thousand hearts were sold in Baltimore! That also means that hundreds and hundreds of individuals who visited the American Visionary Arts Museum saw the hearts at the register, learned about the school in Jacmel and made the decision to be a part of this "family of hope". Because that's what it comes down to, doesn't it? We all have to take care of each other.

Conditions are still absolutely deplorable in much of Haiti, and there is an astonishing amount of work yet to be done. But each individual who makes the decision to share what they have to help these vulnerable children are literally helping to build a better future for Haiti. In this case, a little really does mean a lot. My heartfelt gratitude to EVERYONE who helped us this year by buying a heart at the museum, whoever you are, wherever you are.

Don't forget Haiti--there is still so much to be done. Please consider visiting Art Creation Foundation for Children online. Click on the yellow JUST GIVE banner on the left, and make a tax deductible donation.

And to my students: you are the heroes of this grassroots project. I am so proud to be your teacher.
A thousand times: thank you!