"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." - Dorothea Lange

Monday, May 26, 2008

change the truth update

The next two weeks will be really busy, as we are coming into the homestretch for the Change the Truth fundraising event and the exhibition of my new Ugandan work.

First up, the fundraiser. Hopefully, by now, all of you who live in KC area have marked your calendars for June 12th and are planning to attend! The event will be at the Screenland Theatre from 5 to 8 PM. You will be treated to a silent auction, Lynne Melcher’s film, African dancing and drumming (by the kids from Operation Breakthrough), movie snacks, a cash bar and a “store” full of cool stuff like African crafts and Change the Truth note cards, posters, caps, t-shirts and canvas tote bags. The silent auction will consist of 75 framed paintings and drawings made by the children from St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood, which, by the way, are absolutely beautiful.


The next night, June 13th, will be the opening reception for my exhibition at the Leopold Gallery from 6 -9 PM. As he did last year, Paul Dorrell, owner of the gallery, will donate a percentage of each print sale to Change the Truth. It’s a generous commitment on his part, and I am grateful to him for his ongoing support. Again, I hope those of you who live in the area will try to get by and see the show.


All of this hard work is paying off! We have managed to bring in consistent donations over these past few months to fulfill the ongoing promise we made to help pay for school fees and food. I recently received two thick spiral bound notebooks from Rosemary, director of St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood, full of receipts, grade cards and thank you letters that account for everything right down to the penny and that should make each of us who have donated our time and/or our money feel very good about the assistance we’re providing.

I have asked Rosemary for a “wish list” of larger projects that we may be able to support with the funds raised on June 12th. I’ll keep you updated as we go.

Many thanks to all who have expressed interest in Change the Truth and to those of you who have volunteered your time and donated your money. We really are making a difference in the lives of these kids. It’s amazing what we have done in such a short period of time. Please tell your friends and families about the events on the 12th and 13th.Neither require reservations; both are free and open to the public, Children are absolutely welcome. It will be a great way for us all to get together, to learn more, to make new friends, to celebrate the children in Uganda and the children from Kansas City's Operation Breakthrough, as well as the many accomplishments we have achieved thus far!

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