Nonprofit Kids and Art Wins Award

Kids & Art has been honored with a prestigious 2014 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. Kids & Art offers free monthly art and music workshops to kids touched by cancer, whether directly or by the experience of a parent, sibling or caregiver going through treatment, remission or bereavement.

“We are excited to be named a Top-Rated 2014 Nonprofit,” says Purvi Shah, Executive Director of Kids & Art. “We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including that we still have families that started with us at our very first workshop in 2008 come and create with us. Some of those families are done with their treatment while a few are bereaved. Quite a few of the kids have grown and have come back as teen volunteers. Parents usually say that we have created a safe environment for their kids where they get to meet other kids and families like themselves.”

Of her own son Amaey - the reason Shah founded her non-profit and continued directing despite his loss - Purvi went on to say, “On a personal note, somebody asked me, ‘How do you do it?’” Shah said, “I feel really happy when I’m at workshops. I see the kids enjoying art. Living in the moment just really excites me. That’s what Amaey was doing -- living in the moment. That is why I keep doing this, over and over. We want to reach out to the community and let them know that kids do get cancer and we cannot take that away from them, but we can definitely make art available to them to add more color in their lives.”

The Top-Rated Nonprofit award was based on the large number of positive reviews that Kids & Art received – reviews written by volunteers, donors and clients. People posted their personal experience with the nonprofit. For example, the mother of a five year old going through treatment said, “Kids & Art is a great organization. My son has been attending Kids & Art workshops for over a year. These workshops have helped kindle a love for painting and art that has helped him get through some very difficult days during his treatment. The experience has been very encouraging and healing. My son looks forward to Kids and Art events every month. Thanks to all the artist volunteers and organizers- you are making a difference in our children’s lives!!”

While the Top-Rated Awards run through the end of October, Kids & Art was part of the inaugural group to qualify for the year. In addition, they’ve been added to GreatNonprofits #GivingTuesday Guide—an interactive guide to top nonprofits throughout the years. Look for this near the holidays. “Savvy donors want to see the impact of their donations more than ever,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits, “People with direct experience with Kids & Art have voted that the organization is making a real difference.”

Being on the Top-Rated list gives donors and volunteers more confidence that this is a credible organization. The reviews by volunteers, clients and other donors show the on-the-ground results of this nonprofit. This award is a form of recognition by the community. Kids & Art mission is to provide “children touched by cancer and their care circle, with an environment that enriches, encourages and empowers them to create memorable experiences. Our primary target population are children touched by cancer from 3-18 years of age. We create with children who are in-treatment, survivors, siblings, best friends, as well as children of parents who are undergoing cancer treatment. We also support families who are in hospice, as well as bereaved families through special art workshops. 85% of our families come from Bay Area hospitals like Lucile Packard. 15 % of families are from Kaiser, CPMC, and UCSF. Kids & Art has created workshops at Google, Dreamworks and Pixar Studios. As well as local schools, local Artists’ studios, Redwood City Art Center, Peninsula Museum, and Los Gatos Museum, to name a few.

Plus, Kids & Art needs support to expand their program to Family House! Family House in San Francisco serves as a home away from home for families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by providing physical comfort and emotional support, free from financial concerns. Family House has invited Kids & Art to bring art workshops, music therapy, yoga and meditation to their 40 room facility. To donate workspace, supplies or time visit the Kids & Art website and read more about the organization:

• http://igg.me/at/kidsandartorg/x/8866177
• http://youtu.be/ieuo5sP84UE
• http://www.kidsandart.org/blog/2014/3/3/art-therapy-helping-kids-with-cancer-let-it-go-and-create

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--Information and photo provided by Kids & Art