"TAKE A SEAT, MAKE A DIFFERENCE" FRIENDSHIP CHAIR PROJECT
Changing children’s lives one chair at a time.Imagine...Imagine you are the sole provider – working a
minimum wage hourly job (or two in many cases) in order to support your family – but without enough financial means to provide care for your child in a safe and educational environment. The standard cost of private or public childcare in Monroe County is $250 per week, per child. If not funded by declining Monroe County subsidies, families are required to pay this weekly amount...impossible for a family that makes roughly $8 an hour. Although these parents are eager to work, they often have to quit their jobs because they can’t afford the cost of childcare. Friendship Children's CenterFor over 85 years, the Friendship Children’s Center has provided creative and educational care within a safe environment for Rochester’s poorest families. Parents feel comfortable leaving their child while they work, enabling every family the opportunity to graduate from poverty.
Currently, State and County subsidies don’t cover the cost of necessary expenses and programs the Center provides. The only way that Friendship Children’s Center can continue to take care of these children is through the help of friends in the community. This is where you can help! "Take a Seat, Make a Difference"“Take A Seat, Make A Difference” Friendship Chair Project has brought together a select group of local artists to repurpose a vintage auditorium chair that will be auctioned to raise funds for the Friendship Children’s Center.
Each chair is an exquisite work of art. Unique in detail and theme, the revitalization of each chair was executed with the knowledge that every individual mark, brush stroke and finish would resonate with discerning bidders. Each artist has invested their time and skill with no reimbursement. A true gift in every sense of the word. Pull Up a Chair – Be a FriendFrom September 11, until midnight October 9 in 2014, you had an opportunity to bid on your favorite chair. This was a one-of-a -kind opportunity for you to own a unique work of art from one of our talented area artists.
Each final winning bid helped us get closer to our goal of raising $10,000 to help the children of our community. On Exhibit at Rundel LibraryThroughout the Online Auction (Sept. 11- Oct.9), the “Friendship Chairs “ were on exhibit at Harold Hacker Hall/Rundel Memorial Building, Central Library.
Artists' Closing ReceptionThe Exhibition culminated with an ‘Artists’ Closing Reception’ on Thursday, October 9, 2014. The event was free and open to the public. It was an opportunity to meet the talented artists who participated and make those last minute bids.
Thank You to Our Friendship Chair Artists:
Special Thanks To:The Women of DRAW • Friends & Foundation of Rochester Public Library • Village Gate/Stern Properties • Diane Thresh Graphic Design • St. Vincent Press • Rich Shannon Photography • Scale2 Graphic Displays • Knights of Columbus Council 4691 • Kay Joslyn • Dan Scally • Edna Silvernail
Program CommitteeJoi DiGennaro-McMurty
Executive Director Friendship Children’s Center Maureen Bischoff FCC Board Member Committee Chair Debra VanWert-Sneeringer DRAW Chair |
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