INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Despite the unusually low temperatures that dipped down into the mid-fifties, Children’s Home Society of Florida advocates rallied with warm hearts to support the organization’s “Kids Love Art” Auction, which was held at the historic Adam’s Ranch on Jan. 14.
Guests enjoyed an afternoon of ranch tours and barbeque buffet that was topped off with a live auction featuring original artwork donated by renowned Highwaymen artists. Original paintings, created by Kids Love Art Summer Enrichment Program students, were sold via silent auction.
Sponsors included Bill and Mary Ann Becker, Jim Accursio, Frank and Sunny Adams, Frank’s Hang-Up, Mel Nobel, The Travel Guy, Jeanine Webster, Wealth Advisor, MorganStanley SmithBarney, Florida Power and Light, Jerry’s’ Guitars N Mor Studio, Peter and Karen Harrison, Southern Eagle Distributing, Inc., Starbucks – St. Lucie West and Tidy Coast Event Services. Ken and Aileen Pruitt served as honorary chairs.
The auction supports life enrichment activities for foster children including the Kids Love Art Summer Enrichment Program, which has honed the talents of over 100 budding artists on the Treasure Coast since it was founded in 2004. Each child creates two works of art during the program, one the child keeps and the other is auctioned at the Kids Love Art Auction.
Renowned area artists volunteer their time and talent to teach foster children how to paint. In addition, the artists and their colleagues donate several paintings, which are also auctioned at the Kids Love Art Auction. Artists that have donated their time and talent in the past include: Gary Cadet, Maryann Carroll, Judy Coffman, Kelvin Hair, James Gibson, Zanobia Jefferson, Roy McLendon, Steve Noel, Jimmy Stovall, Susan Somerset-Webb and Linda Yates.
The Children’s Home Society of Florida is the sixth largest of more than 1,200 private organizations currently accredited and/or in process of accreditation in North America (US and Canada). The Treasure Coast Division, which is one of 14 divisions in Florida, served 11,607 children and their families in fiscal year 2011 in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.
CHS programs are developed to break the cycle of child abuse and provide children and young adults with the opportunity to be safe, healthy and prepared for life.
For more information visit www.chsfl.org or call (772) 344-4020.