(Grand Detour, IL) They say it’s always darkest before the dawn. That’s especially true when torrential rains are added into the mix. But while the weather wasn’t looking good early in the morning of June 22nd, Beverly Garcia’s Art in the Garden event turned out to be a great success. By late morning the rains had subsided and people began to arrive.
In fact, an estimated 200 people came to Art in the Garden and purchased 60 of Garcia’s original paintings. A total of $8,660.00 was raised for the programs of the Sinnissippi Foundation. “I am so thrilled by the number of people who came to the event and by those who purchased my paintings,” says Beverly Garcia. “I was also very happy that people were able to walk through and enjoy the gardens. It is my outdoor canvas and hopefully, others enjoyed it as I do.”
Garcia generously opened her art studio, her home and her garden to the public and offered a total of 284 of her paintings for sale, virtually all oil paintings (and a few pastels). “Beverly Garcia is a prolific and talented artist,” says Andy Jackson, Marketing Coordinator for Sinnissippi Centers and the Sinnissippi Foundation. “She paints landscapes, still lifes, portraits, animals, flowers, or anything equally well,” adds Jackson.
“We are so grateful to Beverly for what she has done for the Foundation, and more importantly, for the many individuals and families who will be helped because of her generosity. She is a fantastic artist, a fantastic person and an absolute joy to work with.”
Garcia approached the Foundation with the idea of a fundraising event because she felt so many people needed help. It was Garcia and a dedicated core of volunteers like Bob and Colleen Logsdon who helped get the gardens ready, get the 284 paintings catalogued, priced, and displayed, and did most of the other work to prepare for the event. The Next Picture Show helped provide support (Garcia is a member artist) and other volunteers like Ann Marie and Terry Potts, Claudia Nelson, Becky Hundreiser, and others helped the entire day during the event. “I cannot thank the volunteers enough,” adds Garcia, “they helped make the event run so smoothly and I could not have done this without them.”
All of the proceeds from Beverly Garcia’s Art in the Garden will benefit the programs of the Sinnissippi Foundation. Established in 1979, The Sinnissippi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization which seeks to enhance the lives of individuals and families involved with services at Sinnissippi Centers. Many programs of the Foundation help provide for the urgent needs of Sinnissippi Centers clients and provide other opportunities for them to progress in their wellness and recovery.
