Creative Art Workshops for Kids organizes its first annual ArtWorks Benefit
Online, June 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - New York, NY - The Creative Art Workshops for Kids (CAW) is having its first annual fundraiser at the Atrium Shops and Cafes at 153 E. 53rd Street on Wednesday, June 30th from 6-8pm.
CAW is a unique New York City not-for-profit that provides free weekend, after-school, and summer arts programming to nearly 2,000 underserved children and teens in Northern Manhattan each year. In addition to providing a safe, positive environment where kids and teens can express themselves creatively, CAW's programs foster life skills like effective communication and the importance of cooperation.
During the gala the world-famous performance artist Michael Barletta will be painting live murals with teen alumni from last summer's job program.
This year, CAW is honoring Andrew Levin, Senior Vice President of Boston Properties, for his more than 12 years of guidance and commitment to CAW as a volunteer, board member and current chair of the Program Committee. Andrew helped reinvigorate CAW in 1998 and was responsible for the launch of one of CAW's core programs, a job training program for teens called Summer Art Works. Each summer since 1999, though Andrew's guidance and the support of donors, many of which he has brought to the table, CAW provides summer jobs to approximately 60 - 80 teens who learn tangible job skills while working in teams under the support of professional teaching artists to create stunning public art (like the mural you see above).
Mr. Andrew is in charge of leasing a 9-million-square-foot, 8-building, Midtown Manhattan portfolio at Boston Properties.
Join us for a colorful evening dedicated to improving the lives of children through teaching life skills using the visual and performing arts. The gala will be a good night with great food and wine, live bossa nova jazz from fellow board member Alan Johnson and his band SWIRL, all in an amazing space. Best of all, nearly all proceeds from this event will directly benefit CAW and its worthy programs.
Last year we worked with nearly 2,000 kids and teens, and we were joined by over 750 volunteers who shared in art projects and mentored young people in Harlem. The support of others enabled us to: offer afterschool program apprenticeships with nine professional artists to 140 students at five schools; bring half-day Saturday art workshops three times a month to hundreds of young people; and put 50 at-risk teens to work in our summer jobs program creating large-scale murals for the community.
CAW's Summer Art Works program has proven that teens that have participated in CAW's Summer Art Works programs have demonstrated statistically significant improvements in critical thinking, leadership, public speaking, teamwork and art skills.
Contact information:
Brian F. Ricklin
Executive Director
Board Member ('07 - '09)
Creative Arts Workshop for Kids Inc (CAW)
520 Eighth Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
http://www.caw4kids.org/vision.html
email: brianricklin@caw4kids.org
office: 646.424.0392
mobile: 917.697.2352