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Truth
Springs from
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Concert for World Peace
Featuring
Dona Nobis Pacem
Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Glenn Chancel Choir
Orchestra
Steven Darsey, Conductor
Friday, March 2, 2018
8:00 p.m.—Sanctuary
Admission Free;
Offering Taken
GLENN MEMORIAL CHURCH
A UNITED METHODIST CONGREGATION
1660 N. Decatur Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA www.glennumc.org
Works of HeART
Art show and sale benefit to help heal
Atlanta’s abused children
By Clare S. Richie
An art show and sale set for Feb. 23 will support a local nonprofit that works with
abused children and their families.
The 4th annual Works of HeART Benefit at The American Spirit Works, 199 Armour
Drive, will offer guests the opportunity to eat, mingle with artists and select a piece of art
from more than 100 local and international artists to raise funds for the Georgia Center for
Child Advocacy (GCCA).
“By attending Works of FFeART and bidding on art, you’ll have fun and benefit a very
important cause,” co-chair FFilary Grotewold said. She’s been involved with the fundraiser since
the beginning — first as an attendee, then as a volunteer, and as co-chair this year and last.
Established in 1987, GCCA champions the needs of sexually and physically abused
children through prevention, intervention, therapy and collaboration. The nonprofit works
to ensure that children in Fulton and DeKalb counties receive needed services following a
report of abuse at no cost to their families. To date, the Center has served more than 16,000
children and leads the nation in comprehensive prevention training and programs.
“When I learned more about what the center does in our local Atlanta community —
that really resonated with me,” Grotewold said.
Each year more than 30,000 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect are reported
in our state. In response, the center provides video-recorded forensic interviews for more than
700 child abuse victims each year, conducts more than 1,300 counseling and therapy sessions,
and trains thousands of adults to recognize, react and respond to child sexual abuse.
Last year, Grotewold reached out to long-time friend and fellow Midtown resident
Kacie Gordon about volunteering with GCCA. Gordon was impressed by the nonprofit
and was surprised more people didn’t’ know about it.
“I want to spend my efforts doing something in my community and this is a really
powerful way to do that,” Gordon said.
Gordon agreed to co-chair with Grotewold last year and this year the duo became a trio,
adding veteran volunteer Nichelle Wilson Cowan.
“Being a beacon has encouraged my friends who may have been touched by abuse to seek
healing — it’s never to late to heal,” Cowan shared.
Perhaps that’s why even the artists, like George Settos who donates his canvases of celebrity
icons to the event, are also advocates for the work GCCA provides for victims of abuse.
With more than 100 artists donating their creations to Works of FFeART, like artist
couple Victoria Jackson and Aziz Kadmiri who have supported the event since the
beginning, there is sure to be something to catch your eye.
“No matter what your price range is, we have art for you to bid on,” Grotewold explained.
You can bid on silent auction items the week before and up until the night of the event
from your smartphone, if you pre-register.
“In 2017, we raised almost $40,000
net. This year, we hope to raise more
than $50,000 net in order to ensure that
every family has the tools and resources
they need to heal,” Zobida Dat, GCCA
director of development, said.
These funds are critical because
GCCA can see generations of those
they’ve served over the past 25 years
leading healthy adult lives. Child sexual
abuse victims really do benefit from early
intervention by trained professionals.
“Our goal is to introduce more
people in Atlanta to what GCCA does,”
Gordon said.
For tickets to the art show and sale,
visit worksofheart.info. To pre-register
for the auction, go to heart2018.
auction-bid.org. LEl
AtlantalNtownPaper.com
42 February 2018 | DU