SDSU CHILDREN’S CENTER RAISES NEARLY $9,000, SURPASSES 2013 FUNDRAISING

The SDSU Children’s Center, a nonprofit on-campus daycare center managed by the Associated Students organization, raised nearly $9,000 Saturday night during its 10th Annual “A” is for Art fundraising Exhibition and Gala. Proceeds from the fundraising efforts will go towards providing a scholarship fund for SDSU student-parents pursuing their education while also providing art enriching activities for children at the Center, including the building of an outdoor “mud kitchen.” ("A" is for Art Video)

The Children’s Center has held the fundraiser every spring for the last 10 years, and each year the center has made an effort to have more involvement from the SDSU community and local guest artists.  

“The response to our event from both campus and community supporters was outstanding,” stated Robin Judd, director of the SDSU Children’s Center.  “The diversity within our guest artists who shared their personal artistic styles with the children created outstanding paintings.  The Mingei Museum was also a new and absolutely perfect venue for our event.  We drew in a wider audience thanks to improved community outreach through work with SDSU Arrow Media Group.   We look forward to next year’s event when we will return to the Mingei International Museum in April 2015!"

With the help of local artists, children ages 6 months to 5 years painted the professional looking canvases throughout the month leading up to the Gala. All of the themes, colors, and titles of the paintings were inspired by the children. One acrylic painting that sold for over $700 showed a colorful world atlas and was titled, “Globally Minded.” The painting expressed the children’s increasing awareness and interest in the world.

Honorary Chair of this year’s fundraiser and Dean of the School of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Joyce Gattas said that it is the collaboration of the community and the Center that makes “A” is for Art such a unique and special experience for the children. “Most people think of the visual arts as a non-collaborative process, and this is what is so wonderful about this event because it is all about collaboration," said Gattas.

For those who didn’t get a chance to view the artwork during the Gala, the SDSU Children’s Center is now selling printed copies of the paintings and images of the artwork. The paintings can be viewed by visiting the “A” is for Art Facebook Page.

             Judd says this year’s goal is to reach $10,000 after selling the printed copies. For more information on the Children’s Center or to get information on how to purchase a printed copy of the paintings, call 619-594-7941 or visit http://childcare.sdsu.edu.