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Highwaymen Teach Kids at CHS’s Summer Art Camp

Contributed by: Susan Lewis The Alexis Agency on 7/6/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Susan Lewis
Account Executive
The Alexis Agency
(772) 231-5999 Office
susan@thealexisagency.net


FT. PIERCE, FL, MAY 26, 2009 - Children's Home Society of Florida Treasure Coast Division (CHS) is reprised a classic favorite for children aged nine through 17 who are in foster care. On June 12th and 13th at FAU's St. Lucie West Campus several of the famed Highwaymen painters were once again putting brush to canvas teaching foster children how to paint like masters. Some of the participating artists included Highwaymen Jimmy Stovall and James Gibson and local painters Zanobia Jefferson and Linda Yates. Beverly Sargent, CHS Board Chair served as coordinator of the program which partnered with Florida Atlantic University and the CHS Circle of Friends volunteers, led by Diane Gallagher.


The Highwaymen have a loyal following. They are a group of 26 self-taught African-American artists, known for selling their art out of trunks of cars during segregation times when they were not allowed to display their works in a gallery or museum. They contribute their time to numerous charitable causes along the Treasure Coast and have been inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.


"It is wonderful to see the way this program builds the confidence and self-esteem of the children involved," said CHS volunteer Diane Gallagher, who helped coordinate the art camp. "Watching the transformation on their faces is equally heartwarming, because you know they will leave this experience feeling good about themselves and aware of an ability and talent they never even knew they possessed," added Beverly Sargent.


Children were taught art basics and created one painting alongside the Highwaymen. Historically, the students in the camp keep one of their creations and donate the other to Children's Home Society for the Kids Love Art Auction held every year to help raise funds for CHS programs and services. As well, the Highwaymen also donated the artwork they created with the children to the CHS auction event. This year, CHS is hopeful that the kids' paintings will be displayed at St. Lucie County libraries for a few weeks, before the children take their paintings home.


Event sponsors included Florida Atlantic University, Orchid Island Juice, Bagel Brothers, Town of Tradition, Tara Materials, Dorothy Ghee, and Beverly Sargent.
Created in 1902, Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS) is the oldest and largest statewide private not-for-profit provider of services to children and families in Florida. Services include foster care, adoption, child development, emergency shelters, residential group homes, independent and transitional living for teens, parent education, counseling, mentoring, treatment for developmentally disabled children, and more.

For more information or to volunteer, please call Dee Benjamin at CHS (772) 489-5601.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Susan Lewis The Alexis Agency has posted 9 stories and 0 comments since joining on 7/1/2009. Susan Lewis The Alexis Agency's average story rating is 0.
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