Memory Project - Syria Portraits Delivered

March 15, 2017

In November, Art club students created portraits for 10 Syrian children through a wonderful non-profit organization, The Memory Project. The organization helps bring joy to children all over the world by bringing these hand-made works of art to children who have been orphaned, neglected, abused or are living in extreme poverty.

In return for the artworks, the organization creates a video that captures the celebration of the children receiving their portraits. This year, they partnered with students from the University who dressed up as superheroes to help deliver the portraits.

Here's the email we received after sending in our portraits:

Hi Carissa!

I just received your students' paintings for the kids from Syria - so lovely! These will be such thoughtful gifts for them to receive there in the refugee camp. Thank you so much for this 2nd wonderful contribution, after the 1st for the kids in Colombia!

We'll be bringing these to the children in early February, and I'll look forward to sending you the video of the delivery in mid-late February.

Speaking of that, just FYI, you are still welcome to send photos from your classroom for us to include in your copy of the video (photos of your students, or a group shot, etc), just to make your copy of the video more personal.

Thanks again so much,

Ben

Ben Schumaker, DirectorThe Memory Project2163 N. Gateway St.Middleton, WI 53562P) 608-467-5706

There is a small fee per portrait which covers cost of running the organization, but anything above basic operating costs gets donated right back to the kids.

"Finally, please know that because of your financial contributions we were able to purchase $5,187 in art supplies for various community centers serving the children in the refugee camp, and we were also able to donate $1,600 to the orphanages. That is a terrific amount of support for all of us to provide together, along with these very special portraits.

Thank you so much for everything you do to coordinate this project with your students. We know it takes extra time and work, and we really appreciate it so much. As we hope you will see in the video, it is worth every minute, one hundred times over."

Here is the video, but if you prefer to view it directly, visit: https://youtu.be/LY_o9cR0ZAk