HALO Foundation plans auction
Michelle Brooks
[email protected]
PUBLICATION: Jefferson City News-Tribune (MO)
SECTION: Escape
DATE: February 23, 2012
Page: 23
A night immersed in the arts should elicit funds to support a Ugandan girls orphanage and a new activity for local youths.
The 4th Annual HALO Foundation ArtReach Auction will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 2 at Capitol Plaza Hotel, 415 W. McCarty St.
HALO (Helping Art Liberate Orphans) is an international not-for-profit based in Kansas City, but founded by Jefferson City native Rebecca (Neuenswander) Welsh.
The Mengo Home in Kampala, Uganda – where another Jefferson City native, Kristen Vogel, served for two years – is fully supported by HALO Jefferson City. The home provides a safe haven for about 20 girls, including shelter, food, water, clothing, education and art therapy.
This year, the local chapter has committed to providing a new support program for Jefferson City children in need.
The local HALO center will be located on the second floor of the Common Ground Community Center, at 1015 E. Atchison St.
This will be the HALO Foundation’s third domestic center, following Denver, Colo., and Kansas City. Eventually the local center will offer after-school programs, which coordinate with other youth organizations, including The Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital City.
The Jefferson City HALO Center has an “amazing” amount of potential, said local board member Laura Morris.
“But it’s based on fundraising,” she said. “The community can be responsible for its success.”
To support both programs, the auctions will need to raise at least $21,000 this year.
The evening fundraiser will include live and silent auctions of pieces created by 25 local artists, as well as artwork created by children served by HALO. Creative works include prints, clothing, jewelry and fabric items.
In Uganda, orphans use artwork as a means of expression, said local chapter member Joyce Neuenswander.
They may not technically be orphans, but their families cannot provide for them.
“Art is a therapeutic way to look outside of their impoverished setting to dream and hope,” Neuenswander said.
Entertainment will be provided by the Jefferson City High School choir and the Lincoln University Dance Troupe. And art clubs from Cedar Hill Elementary and Calvary Lutheran High School will help collaborate with the evening.
A dance will follow.
“It’s a nice, high-end auction,” Morris said. “It’s a really good time and a really good cause.”
Call 230-7721, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.haloworldwide.org for more information.
Caption: Submitted photo
This mosaic-topped table was created by art students of Debbie Schellman at Calvary Lutheran High School. It is one of dozens of original pieces of artwork that will be auctioned March 2 at the 4th annual HALO Foundation ArtReach Auction.