I’m still amazed at the power of art, and the impact it can have on others.
My seemingly innocent idea of creating a drawing and then signing and numbering 200 prints for charity has turned into something bigger than I could have imagined.
In the past year my art has raised nearly $150k for charity, and along the way I’ve gotten to work with some amazing people – folks who are in the public spotlight and many who are not.
And, if you’re reading this, it’s likely that you contributed to that donation by purchasing a print. Together, we’ve made a real, positive impact in our community. That’s certainly something we should all be proud of.
When I first starting using my artwork to raise money for charity, I just wanted to give back and put positive vibes back into the world. It’s really that simple. I didn’t have any expectations of receiving anything in return.
But there’s a lot of good people out there, and you never know who’s watching. I certainly never expected the email that I received recently.
It was from Alaska Airlines. They said that they’ve been following my art and fundraisers, and noticed that I‘m a huge UW Husky fan (a massive understatement!)… and they wanted to do something nice for me:
Send me and a guest to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta to watch Washington Husky Football battle Alabama Football for a chance to play for the National Championship. They’ll cover everything: charter flight, hotel, transportation, pre-game party, and tickets in a suite to watch the game.
I couldn’t believe it. I had to re-read the email 20 more times to confirm that I wasn’t imagining this.
Sure enough, it’s real, and I leave on Friday to the big game. I’m still in shock…
And to think, all of this started with a pencil, paper, and a commitment to help others.
Indeed, the world works in mysterious ways.
