Art and Philanthropy – Using a Newfound Talent to Give Back

Friends, family, coworkers, mentors, acquaintances, … surprise! I’m an artist.

That may come as a shock to some of you and not so much of a shock to others. I’ve always had a creative side; I just never had an opportunity to truly explore it… until recently, that is. I wish I could claim COVID-19 was the kick in the butt I needed, because it seems to have sparked a lot of creativity in others around the world, but it was actually my Mother watching an acrylic pouring YouTube video that got me thinking, “I can do that!”. Anyway, 9 months later and here I am, now officially calling myself an artist. I have sold quite a few paintings, completed a handful of commissions, and have made way too many trips to Michael’s (curbside pickup, of course).

This week I was informed that one of my earlier paintings (a paint pour on a set of coasters) was selected to be featured in an August collection of face masks promoting local Ottawa artists. Of course this was exciting, especially because I was going to be getting a nice little kickback from the sales – without having to do a darn thing! But then I got thinking…

COVID-19 has been tough on everyone, but it has been especially tough on charities that rely on summer fundraisers – like golf tournaments, galas, charity breakfasts, auctions, and more golf tournaments. With no in-person events, they are going to have a much harder time getting the funds they need to keep providing their much-needed services.

For example, Ronald McDonald House Ottawa typically relies on their annual golf tournament to bring in about $80,000. Sure, people are still generous and many will still write their donation cheques, but when people aren’t “getting something” in return for their payments, it’s a tougher sell (unfortunate, but that’s just the way it is).

So, that is why I have decided to donate all my profits from the sale of the face mask with my artwork to Ronald McDonald House Ottawa. When I asked the vendor producing the masks (GallantMEDIA) if he would match my donation, he responded to my email almost immediately and agreed to do it. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever received a quicker response. That certainly made me feel good.

So there you have it, for every “Uncommon Artscape” face mask that is sold, $10 will be going to a place that provides families with a safe, warm, compassionate environment while their seriously ill children are receiving medical services.

In case you didn't know, the House, as well as the Family Rooms at CHEO, are places where dedicated volunteers and professionals provide all kinds of support to families going through an extremely difficult time, often far away from the comfort of their own homes and support systems. You can read about all the stories families have from staying at Ronald McDonald House in Ottawa and the Family Rooms in CHEO – these are people going through the worst times in their lives but who didn’t have to think about where to stay or the extra expenses involved; they got to maximize their time with their sick children without having to leave the hospital just to have a shower. I’ve seen it called “a home away from home” many times in these stories and I’m so happy to be able to donate some funds to the House.

“When your worst nightmare becomes your new reality, and your child gets diagnosed with cancer, your world gets torn to pieces. When you are miles from home, and all alone, having the Ronald McDonald house is a godsend. Not only is it a true Home away from home, but it is also a place where you can build friendships for life, find emotional support and guidance, and a little bit of solitude in the crazy world of having a sick child.” - https://rmhottawa.com/story/michaud-family-story/

They say that "every little bit helps" and I really hope that's true. If you are interested in purchasing a mask, please visit https://uncommonartscape.square.site/masks for more information. Otherwise you can choose to donate directly to the House by visiting their website https://rmhottawa.com/get-involved/make-a-donation-form/.

If anyone is up to the challenge of meeting my $5 per mask donation, I'd love to hear from you. I have the whole month of August to find someone else - that's my new goal. Do you think I can do it?! If not, even just sharing my posts LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram, will go a long way. Like I said, every little bit helps!

Thank you for listening! Stay safe and mask up!