Kids discover the comfort and joy of creativity with ART4KIDS, INC.

At the 13th annual Festival of Children recently held at South Coast Plaza, more than 200 children and their families got a taste of ART4KIDS, Inc., a Newport Beach-based nonprofit that provides art materials for children in distress. The festival, created by philanthropist Sandy Segerstrom, showcased 75 child-related charities in Orange County as a way for individuals to learn about volunteer opportunities. Irvine Valley College art instructor Pam Schader founded ART4KIDS, INC. on September 11, 2001 in response to that day’s tragic events. ART4KIDS, INC. helps children process trauma through art expression. The organization donates art studio materials to children in hospitals, to victims of domestic violence, those in poverty, suffering abuse, divorce, or grieving the loss of a loved one. ART4KIDS, INC. “artpacks” typically contain crayons, watercolors, a brush and paper.

Schader stated, “Research shows art to be one of the most effective treatments for healing trauma. It can trigger meaningful dialogue, providing valuable insight to therapists and caregivers. The child is helped in the moment and gains a life skill for the future.”

The therapeutic experiences of these children mirror the studies of art as a healing modality. Art therapist Cathy Malchioldi of Salt Lake City noted, “The very process of creating art prompts children to tell more than they would if you just talk about it.”

Schader is a local artist with a Masters of Arts degree and a college art instructor for 30 years. At its outset, ART4KIDS, INC. served a few local social service agencies with limited donations. Thanks to grants and individual donors, art studios have been established throughout Orange County where children are served by the organization. A hotel whose clients are homeless even designated a room for children’s homework and art studio.

ART4KIDS, INC. provides an outlet for artistic expression for thousands of children in distress every year. The organization serves children in hospitals, clinics, orphanages, foster care agencies, domestic violence and homeless shelters – any facility that provides services for children in trauma. It has served children throughout Southern California and the U.S. and in 15 other countries. Since ART4KIDS, Inc.’s inception, thousands of children worldwide have received artpacks. Friends of ART4KIDS, Inc. carry artpacks on vacation and deliver them to orphanages and hospitals abroad. ART4KIDS, Inc. serves numerous Orange County agencies such as Human Options, Head Start, New Directions for Women, Orangewood, Olive Crest, Laura’s House, Crittenton Services, Grandma’s House of Hope, Providence Speech and Hearing Center, and others.

Run entirely by volunteers, ART4KIDS, Inc. depends on the support of private donations. To learn more, visit www.art4kidsinc.org or call Pam Schader at 949-646-1100.