SAPPI IDEAS THAT MATTER: 'OODLES OF DOODLES' BRINGS SMILES TO CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN IN U.S. & CANADA

Design and illustration professionals from throughout world have united for an amazing project that provides entertainment, inspiration and art therapy to chronically ill children.
Design and illustration professionals from throughout world have united for an amazing project that provides entertainment, inspiration and art therapy to chronically ill children.

18.07.2002 News

Seattle (USA) - Design and illustration professionals from throughout world have united for an amazing project that provides entertainment, inspiration and art therapy to chronically ill children. 
 
Art with Heart, a Seattle charity, is reaching out to children through an activity book called Oodles of Doodles for Your Noodle. The book provides over 100 pages of games, puzzles and other activities that encourage these special children to express themselves through imagination and creativity. 

In April 2000, a volunteer team of professionals from Art with Heart began researching and consulting with hospitals nationwide to create activities that would help children who are dealing with long-term illnesses. The contents of the book are based upon this research. Ninety seven internationally-known artists have donated their tremendous talents to illustrate the book's various activity pages. It is a project based upon collaboration of hearts and hands. 
 
"I decided to participate in the Art with Heart project because is seemed like such a good cause," said Mary GrandPre, illustrator of the Harry Potter books. "Being sick is really hard for kids, and being in the hospital is even worse. Whatever we can do to make it better is worth doing. This is just a small contribution toward making a child smile and feeling a little bit better, when smiling isn't always an easy thing to do." 
 
"'Oodles of Doodles' fosters children's imaginations, encouraging artistic expression, utilizing art therapy to provide a non-threatening outlet for fear," said Steffanie Lorig, founder of Art with Heart and co-author of the book. "Our hope is that this book will help make their hospital experience less scary and the illness they are facing less traumatizing." 
 
Over 8,000 books are being given away to American and Canadian hospitals, camps and agencies that serve chronically ill children (paying only postage and handling). Recreational therapists and family members can use the book to work with children, helping them explore an entirely new level of creativity, enabling them to express their feelings in a meaningful way. 
 
To ensure the project's success, each of the artists and designers donated the illustrations within the book - a gift worth well over $100,000. Printing, paper and other costs were either donated or provided at a substantial discount. Participating print sponsors are Graphic Arts Center, K/P Corporation, Printing Control, Hemlock Printers, Rainier Color and Communicraft. Monetary contributors include the Kirlin Foundation, PhotoWorks Inc., Bowman Family Foundation, William Penn Foundation, International Paper Company, Fluent Communications, Craig Young Family Foundation and AIGA-Seattle. 
 
In July 2002, Art with Heart was awarded a $45,000 grant by Sappi's "Ideas That Matter", a program developed to support the use of design for the public good. Out of 189 submissions, twenty-five winners were selected to receive grants. The "Oodles" project was selected as one of two tied for the highest level of funding. Sappi is the world's leading producer of coated fine paper, holding major market shares in Europe, North America and Africa. The funding will go to help offset costs of reprinting. 



For more information, contact:

Terry Marks 
Terry Marks Design 
T: + 1 206 628 6427
E: terry@tmarksdesign.com

For more information on "Oodles of Doodles for your Noodle," visit the Art with Heart website or order online. A limited number of copies are available to the general public.
Design and illustration professionals from throughout world have united for an amazing project that provides entertainment, inspiration and art therapy to chronically ill children.
Design and illustration professionals from throughout world have united for an amazing project that provides entertainment, inspiration and art therapy to chronically ill children.

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