Women's group donates $14,500 for Little City's arts program

Little City announced it received a $14,500 donation from 100 Women Who Care for its Center for the Arts.

The funding will support the art facilitators who are essential to the program. Currently, 10 professional artists serve as facilitators at the Center for the Arts, where they provide guidance for the more than 75 artists who use the studios and available supplies to create art.

"100 Women Who Care is all about women pooling their resources to help others. We know that our donation to support the facilitators at Little City's Center for the Arts will have a significant impact on the lives of the men and women who use the center to express themselves creatively. We are proud to support their efforts," says Laurie Richter, founder of 100 Women Who Care North Suburban Chicago.

The group's mission is to use the power of collective giving to make a difference in the north suburbs of Chicago. It meets quarterly to pick a local charity to support, with members each contributing to the cause.

The Center for the Arts offers participants from Little City and other area organizations a place dedicated to creating art. It is designed to provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities a sense of purpose and empowerment.

"Each year it is a greater challenge to fully fund this part of the program," says Bev Saiz, director of foundation and government relations at Little City. The funds from 100 Women Who Care will go a long way toward allowing Little City to continue to provide facilitators, who serve a vital role in the program. Facilitators introduce new materials and techniques to the artists, coordinate larger projects involving more than one artist, and provide suggestions to individual artists on completing works.

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