Giving Back

I admire activists, but I don’t claim to be one. My introverted self would rather approach things in a different way, it always involves creativity.

Several years back my uncle started the Helping Kids and Families Fund which supports families struggling in my hometown, Rockford. It also supports single parents and teenage parents, a cause very close to my heart. When he reached out to me asking for help with his brand, I was happy to contribute a small part.

When I lived in Kansas City a few friends and I decided to put together an art event to support a local domestic abuse shelter. A local coffee shop allowed us to host on Valentine’s night. We offered local gift baskets and local art for auction. That night we packed in about 100 people into that coffee house and raised a few thousand dollars for the shelter.

I moved to St. Petersburg about 5 years ago. Shortly after I started a Facebook group called Artists United where artists of all disciplines can come to share and support each other. Prior to Covid we had monthly meetups. During Covid I offered virtual happy hours and a free online workshop to help artists improve photographing their work, writing artist statements, bios, etc. A few group members have since come back to share that it has helped them win awards and get into different shows. The success of one is the success of all.