PRESS ROOM > Press Story > Daily Press, April 3, 2009

Volunteer helps youth tap into their creative side

By Shannon Humphrey | 247-4795

April 3, 2009

When Sandy Donaldson's daughter came home from school in tears, Donaldson immediately asked her what was wrong. Her daughter told her that the art teacher never said anything about her artwork and that had upset her. Those words struck a chord in Donaldson, who realized she never wanted another child to have a similar experience.

"She wanted the art teacher to say something positive about her work and she just never did," Donaldson said. "I realized at that point that I wanted to be able to help kids with their self-esteem and self-confidence, something I do through my involvement with the Monart Art Enrichment program at Alternatives."

Alternatives Inc. is a nonprofit youth development that serves Hampton and Newport News . Donaldson serves as board chairwoman for Alternatives. Within that program is The Monart Enrichment Project, which provides visual art enrichment activities to 1,200 socio-economically disadvantaged or special-needs children who are experiencing barriers to learning, such as substance abuse, mental retardation, social and emotional disabilities or learning disabilities.

Donaldson also organizes the Monart Children's Art Enrichment Auction. The auction will feature 86 local artists, including seven pieces from Monart students, to raise money for the program.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the art auction?

A: As board chair for Alternatives, I learned about the before-and-after results with the Monart Art Enrichment Project. They basically take these kids and after a 45-minute lesson, they are able to create amazing artwork. They use the Monart method, which focuses on the use of five elements: angle, straight line, dot, circle and curve. From these elements, they can look at something and know how to make it.

Q: Where does the money go that is being raised from this auction?

A: It all goes back to the Monart Enrichment Project and helps kids that are economically disadvantaged attend the program. This is important, since children that attend the program demonstrate an increased ability for creative problem solving and realistic artwork. It also helps them with their reading and writing, through the sequencing skills that are taught. Last year we raised $11,000, which helped us reach an additional 400 students.

Q: Where does your passion for helping these children come from?

A: We affect the lives of so many children. We enable them to tap into the creativity they have inside as a youth. They can use this creativity to soar and be a better person. It promotes self confidence and self-esteem.

Q: How have you seen your involvement with the Monart program change someone else's life or your life?

A: Through one little girl in the program I've met, Yasmine, just seeing how excited she gets for her Monart lessons each week. Seeing her reading and writing ability improve so much and her self-esteem and confidence going up.

Q: What has been one of the most memorable experiences you've had through working with this program?

A: At last year's auction, Yasmine, an 8-year-old artist, donated one of her pieces. A man by the name of Henry Jones was one of the bidders at the auction and after he heard Yasmine's story, he bought her artwork. When he came up to get it, he had tears in his eyes, because he knew how much it meant to her and to the kids he was helping by buying the artwork. He's come back this year and served on our fundraising committee.

Q: Who is your favorite artist and why?

A: Nancy Thomas. She helped us out so much with our fundraiser last year, allowing us to have the event at her gallery in York County . She's been so gracious and supportive of the auction, and her artwork is just beautiful. She's donated two pieces to this auction.

Children's Art Enrichment Auction

• Bid online at www.monart.cmarket.com through today

• Silent and live auction at the Arbors in Port Warwick 6 p.m. Saturday. A live auction will begin at 7 p.m. Cost: $35 per person and $50 per couple

• Reservations for the event can be made online at www.altinc.org or by calling, 838-2330.

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