'Fine Art In The Park' To Help Haiti School, Many Others

Editor's Note: This article was written for Los Altos Patch as part of a San Jose State University journalism class assignment. The writer welcomes your feedback and comments.

Written by Laura Nguyen

For more than thirty years, the Los Altos Rotary Club has hosted “Fine Art in the Park,” its biggest fundraising event, at Lincoln Park to support local and international charities.

This year, all proceeds from raffle ticket sales will go towards the Society of Providence United for the Economic Development of Pétion-Ville (SOPUDEP) school in Haiti that was ravaged by the hurricane and earthquake in early 2010. 

As SOPUDEP school continues to grow again with all the efforts and funding provided to them, there is still a lot to do. Buildings begin to take shape, but the children still need materials like furniture and books.

Jean Mordo, who has headed this fundraiser in the past, says that some pieces at this art show can cost $10,000 to $15,000, and some are more reasonably priced at $300 or $400. 

Smaller items like jewelry may be more affordable and great as gifts. Among the dozens of fine art exhibitors, there are four Los Altos artists showing.

“We’re in charge of who exhibits at the show,” he says with a joke, “we don’t have something like Tiffany’s,” but buyers can still be sure that what they’re purchasing is unique and valuable whether it’s handmade textiles, jewelry, paintings, sculptures and even furniture.

“Fine art is anything beautiful,” says Mordo, “It’s appreciating beauty and higher-quality pieces, and it’s all in the eye of the beholder.”

This year, with the help of some sponsors, there will be a raffle for ticket buyers. The prizes will include:

1st - Five-night stay at a luxury hotel in Honolulu
2nd - Three-night luxury stay at a hotel in Maui 
3rd - iPad mini

Ticket sales, sponsorship and donations make up the proceeds. However, artists have always been the bulk of the net proceeds. They pledge 10% of their sales to the fundraiser according to Mordo.

The net profits towards proceeds were about $90,000 to $100,000 last year, Mordo says, after permits and other fees for the event were paid for. Included were cash sponsorships, which alone came to about $22,000. Committees in the Rotary Club then grant the money to a wide spectrum of locally-based charities, and Los Altos Rotary's international projects.

Along with the art are food booths and activities. The event will also have information booths for non-profit organizations doing work such as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Third World countries, to high school mentoring and child advocacy.  

Allart Ligtenberg, a Rotary Club member and former HP engineer, who has manned the solar booth with his wife for several years now says,  “Hopefully we catch enough sun to prepare” popcorn, lasagna, chocolate chip cookies and coffee cake.

Rotarians support local high school student artists through its the "Young at Art" competition. Thirteen high school artists were selected as scholarship winners in the competition. Those works are exhibited in a gazebo near the entrance. 

Los Altos High School students have been working with the Rotary Club to help send aid for this project. World Community Services Committee Chair of the Rotary Club, Allan Varni, says that Los Altos High School is the official sister school to SOPUDEP, and that the kids have gone to Haiti twice in 2011 & 2012. They went in February of this year and will go again in June. 

There are many ways to aid these Haitian school children. Each Rotarian plays a part in this fundraiser that benefits communities and high school students take part in passing out flyers and assisting in Haiti.

Even buying fine art at Fine Art in the Park can help Haiti.