We Care Arts receive support from Tipp City Foundation

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We Care Arts has a mission of empowering the healing of people with diverse abilities through art and community. It aims to foster self-esteem and independence through creative expression and practical skill development.

“Our vision is a future where people with diverse abilities can achieve their full potential and feel embraced by an inclusive society. We Care Arts increases confidence and artistic skill in a variety of individuals,” said Kelli Campbell, marketing coordinator for the nonprofit We Care Arts.

Locally, We Care Arts offers high school Transition to Work classes.

The organization, founded in 1983 by Terry Schalnat, brings its mission to life through ArtWORKS classes at Tipp City, Bethel and Piqua high schools in Miami County along with nearly 20 more in five other counties.  The program plans to reach out to Troy and Milton Union high schools about participation, Campbell said.

Among program supporters is the Tipp City Foundation, which most recently provided awards from two of its 63 funds. The William’s Gift fund issued $5,226.53 while $1,000 was given from the Robinson-Walters Fund.

“The distribution committee has supported We Care Arts over the years because of its unique mission,” said Jim Ranft, chairman of that committee. “Their programs support three of our six areas of emphasis: education, social services and the arts.”

The Transition to Work in-school programs offer materials to special needs teachers providing instruction for students ages 16-22.

“We Care Arts supplements their experience by providing weekly art classes that reinforce crucial life and job skills at no cost to the student, school or district. We Care Arts provides individual bags with all needed art supplies for all projects for each student in the class as well as the teacher bag. There are also corresponding YouTube instructional video links provided for each of the art projects in each kit,” Campbell said.

In addition to the 2024 grant, the Tipp City Foundation has provided the following grants over the past few years: $5,124 in 2023, $2,500 in 2021, $5,000 in 2019, and  $3,000 in 2018.

"In the early 1990’s I had the pleasure of meeting Terry Schalnat.  At that time, the array of behavioral health services at Good Samaritan Hospital included an outpatient treatment program for people with severe mental illnesses.  As an adjunct to that treatment service, Good Samaritan offered a daytime “social club” (The Community Club) for our patients with severe mental illnesses,” said Sue McGatha, who was behavioral health services line director at Good Samaritan at the time.

“Terry worked with us to bring We Care Arts staff to The Community Club and to help our patients integrate art into their recovery process.  Our patients truly benefitted from the services,” she said. Sue established the Robinson-Walters Fund of the Tipp City Foundation in 2019.

People can support We Care Arts ArtWorks, Employment Services, Outreach and TTW programs by:

·      One-time and recurring cash donations

·      Provide items from Amazon Wish List

·      Sponsor events

·      In-kind donations

·      Buy art from its Town & Country Gift shop in Kettering

·      Volunteer in classes and for events.

For more information, visit www.WeCareArts.org.