NEWS RELEASE

Art for Hearts

Monday10th September 2007- St. George’s: At the conclusion of the CHORES 33^rd Mission to Grenada this past week a special presentation was made to the doctors, technicians, and volunteers who participate in this important charity that gives heart surgeries for Grenada ’s children. Ten works of art from Grenada’s artists were presented to the group for them to carry to Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

These donated works of art will be just a small part of an art auction that is held every year to help fund the expenses of heart surgeries for children. Children from five countries have benefited from the volunteer work of the doctors, but of course there are always many expenses involved in bringing the children to the United States. Children from Venezuela, China, Palestine, Ghana and Grenada have had their lives changed by these life-giving surgeries. When told by Jennifer Solomon of SGU about the auction, President of the Grenada Arts Council, Victoria Slinger, sent the information to the artists, and in a very short time artists responded positively with donations of art.

Art activist Susan Mains said, “We are very proud to have a part to play in helping to raise funds for these operations for children. While the Patron of the Hearts programme has helped children from five countries, Grenada is the first of those countries to participate by donating art for this fund raising auction. It speaks well of the social consciousness of our artists, and the power of art in a community.”

The artists who donated work are Oliver Benoit, Gordon De La Mothe, Maria McClafferty, Lilo Nido, Maryse Fauve Taylor, Susan Mains, Fernanda Steele, Suzanne Charles, and the work of a Haitian sculptor donated by the Angel Fish shop.

CHORES director in Grenada, Dr. Beverly Nelson, expressed great appreciation for the donation of the works of art and the involvement of the artists.

Hopefully this will be just the first interaction of this kind, and that the artists of the other countries whose children benefit from the surgeries will become involved as well.

More information about Patrons of the Hearts can be found at www.patronsofthehearts.com

For more information contact Victoria Slinger, 440-3343