Art League of Cheatham County raises more than $6K for local foster kids
The Art League of Cheatham County donated more than $6,000 to local foster kids this holiday season.
Money raised during the organization’s Fall Gala at the Livery Stables in Pleasant View on Nov. 19, 2021, was gifted to the county’s foster kids last month.
“For me, the Art League is not just about helping artists. It becomes more about inclusion and paying it forward to benefit the community in a meaningful way, especially children,” Art League of Cheatham County President Debbie Keenan said in an earlier press release.
“We are not just a group of what shall I say, Sunday painters. We are a varied group of over 70 members of community-minded professionals, business owners, artists and art professionals, and members who believe that The Arts benefit our community.”
Though the journey began much earlier.
After working alongside Cheatham County General Sessions Juvenile Court Judge Phillip Maxey and the Juvenile Court for many years, John Lindahl – cofounder and patron of the Art League of Cheatham County – discovered a serious need.
Lindahl realized a serious financial need existed within the system that serves children often moving home to home with next to nothing.
An idea sparked – a way to help financially support local foster kids and artists.
And a partnership was born.
“Kim Ferguson, DCS, said that ‘she had never had this happen in her years with DCS!’ The Art League is excited to have discovered this worthy cause to pay it forward! Who knows what talent lies before us,” she said in an earlier press release.
Lindahl went on to donate $10,000 to the Art League championing the cause.
The Art League organized its Fall Gala where artists were able to exhibit their work for sale and encouraged to donate one or more pieces of art toward a live auction benefiting a local children’s charitable fund.
More than 30 pieces of art valued at over $9,000 were donated to the live auction that helped raise $6,630 for foster kids in the county.
Bids ranged between $50 and $2,250 – the highest bid for a 36 x 38 oil painting by Art League member, Kristi Baker named Sunset on Santa Maria. Gala guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, food and music as well.
For donating art to the live auction, artists received an entry ticket for a raffle that awarded three lucky artists $6,000.
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com or (615) 517-1285.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Art League of Cheatham County raises more than $6k for local foster kids
