Charities

Nonprofit Participation in Kaleidoscope was Wheely Amazing

Last fall, when nonprofit organizations were financially strained because of Hurricane Katrina, eleven local organizations chose to invest their limited funds on butterfly sponsorships for Kaleidoscope. Many wanted to increase awareness of their organization. Most wanted to show support for the construction of the inclusive play experience, CommonGround.  All, who had often been on the receiving end of generosity, chose to be generous toward another cause.

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The Wheely Amazing story is just that: really amazing.  It involves several groups of local nonprofits supporting each other. It also involves adults with disabilities working to help children with disabilities.  The story begins with The Kiwanis Club of Lakeland.

Within Kiwanis International there are aKtion Clubs made up of disabled adults who contribute to the community through fundraising and service projects.  Lakeland Kiwanis sponsors an aKtion Club at Sunrise Community of Polk County, helping to provide funding and support for their activities.

When approached about participating in Kalelidoscope, The Kiwanis Club of Lakeland was happy to comply.  “It couldn’t have been a better fit for us,” said Kiwanis President Phil Wegman said.  “We were excited about the opportunity to sponsor a group of disabled adults who in turn would contribute to a park that will benefit disabled children. The use of adaptive playground equipment to integrate disabled children with non-disabled children is very similar to the intent of the Wheely Amazing Art program – integrating them into everyday society.”

The aKtion Club’s Wheely Amazing Art program gives adults with varying disabilities the pleasure of creating artwork through the use of adaptive equipment.  Under the guidance of Art Coordinator Rachelle Parady, adults with cerebral palsy, mental retardation and autism worked several weeks to decorate their butterfly.  Wheely Beautifly canbe seen on Lake Morton near West Palmetto Street.

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Having benefited directly from Swansation, Explorations V Children’s Museum is no stranger to public art projects. In 2003 Explorations V received a financial boost of $300 thousand dollars from Swansation.  That money was used to fund the beginnings of an endowment to sustain the facility for future generations.  It also purchased the museum’s first networked computer system and established a permanent exhibit commemorating Swansation.   After experiencing first hand those benefits, the board at Explorations V was happy to take a visible role in a new public art project and to help fund a new cause, CommonGround.

“Proceeds from Kaleidoscope will benefit an all inclusive children’s park.” CEO of Explorations V, Georgann Carlton said. “It’s certainly a wonderful addition to the community.  Of course the children’s museum would sponsor a project like that.”

Jessica Artman, a senior in the Fine Arts Program at Florida Southern College and daughter of board member, Stuart Artman, was commissioned to decorate the Explorations V butterfly.  Ms. Carlton saw this as a great opportunity to give a talented young artist a forum to display her work. Wings of Exploration may be seen in Munn Park across from Explorations V Children’s Museum.

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It was a “big sacrifice” for Central Florida Autism Institute to fund a butterfly, but board member Brady Millican felt it was vital for several reasons.

“We loved the design of the playground because it had an area for all children with disabilities – all disabilities were considered.  I thought the design was well thought out and would help children with autism get out and integrate.”

Millican also hoped the butterfly would raise public awareness about the Central Florida Autism Institute.  The institute’s mission is to be advocates for families of children with autism as they enter the school system and to increase community awareness about the disease.  They are currently raising funds with a goal of opening a clinic in Lakeland in August 2007.

The symbol for autism awareness is interlocking puzzle pieces.  Millican explained, “Autism is a socio-communicative disease that not everyone understands.  There is still a mystery about the disease—how it happens and how to cure it.” 

Jay Hannifan, husband of Central Florida Autism Institute board member Debby Hannifan, painted a butterfly with colorful, interlocking puzzle pieces.  Connecting the Pieces may be seen in Barnett Park.

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In 2003, whenever BJ Brock looked out the windows of All Saints Episcopal Church, she noticed a steady stream of people viewing the Swansation sculptures that were around Lake Mirror.  At that point she made up her mind that it would be worthwhile to participate in a public art project that had such impact on the community.
 
“I saw the excitement of people as they looked at the swans.  I knew there was a lot of interest,” Ms. Brock said. 

In 2005 the board of All Saints Episcopal Church Thrift Store and More decided to become a butterfly sponsor.  Board member Ms. Brock felt CommonGround was an important project and that participating in Kaleidoscope would help make more people aware of the church’s thrift store.

The All Saints Episcopal Church Thrift Store and More is managed by an all volunteer group.  The store offers both used and new department store quality items at thrift store prices.  Donations are received from parishioners and community supporters.  All money raised through the thrift shop supports projects such as Habitat for Humanity. 

The thrift store’s butterflywas decorated by board member Lynn Johnson with the help of her daughter Diane.  An angel theme was chosen because of the popularity of angels in culture as bearers of blessings.  The store also uses an angel in its logo.  The Messenger is located in front of All Saints Episcopal Church Thrift Store and More in the 500 block of South Florida Avenue.

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Other nonprofits joined the four mentioned above in setting a precedent by spending their own funds on sponsorships. The Lakeland Rotary Club was a butterfly sponsor and the Rotary Club of Lakeland – South sponsored Kaleidoscope’s youngest artists from Rochelle School of the Arts.  Two churches, Trinity Presbyterian, and First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, were sponsors. Finally, three schools, Lakeland Christian School, Saint Paul Lutheran School and Southeastern University also paid to be butterfly benefactors.

Eighteen different charities, including many of these, will benefit when 34 of the butterflies are sold at auction in April 2007.  They will receive 50% of the proceeds from their auctioned butterflies.  Kaleidoscope as well as the local community have truly benefited from nonprofit participation in this public art project.