Project Sunshine gets creative

Art & Innocence Celebration raises funds for children's camp

GV/ALL--Philip Kenton a local artist was among the few that donated his art for the charity event "Project Sunshine of Nevada Art & Innocence Celebration" Saturday Apr. 9, 2005. View photo Henry Vargas. GV/ALL/VIEW--Artist Buffalo Gouge from New Mexico holds a helmet that he painted for an event Art & Innocence for Project Sunshine Saturday Apr. 9, 2005. View photo Henry Vargas.

Kari Tillman already knew the critically ill and abused campers at Project Sunshine's annual summer camps showed heroic courage, hope and spirit dealing with their life situations. But when those same campers asked her how they could help raise funds to ensure that more kids could attend the camps, she was nothing short of amazed.

Tillman is the executive director of Project Sunshine of Nevada, which was founded in 2001 to help provide a safe, cost-free camp experience for critically ill, abandoned, abused or neglected children. The four-day, three-night camp is held during the summer months at Torino Ranch in Spring Mountain National Forest, and has hosted more than 3,000 campers since its informal beginnings in 1999.

Project Sunshine's largest annual fund-raiser, the 2005 Art & Innocence Celebration held April 9, raised more than $450,000 for the nonprofit program.

"The Art & Innocence Celebration was inspired by the campers," Tillman said. "The kids wanted to know how they could help raise money to send more kids to the camp. I just thought, 'Wow, these kids are critically ill or have come from abusive or neglecting homes, and they want to know how they can help others.' That's awesome."

According to Tillman, since 2001 Project Sunshine has given art to sponsors and donors to show appreciation. Last year the first Art & Innocence Celebration was held to auction camper art to raise funds for the program, and this year the event has grown to include work by noncampers as well.

"After we started giving the art to sponsors, they really liked it and they wanted more," Tillman said. "So we started the Art & Innocence Celebration as a fund-raising auction and it has gotten a great response.

"This year we also had several world-renowned artists donate one-of-a-kind works, which has been wonderful. The artists and the Las Vegas community have been so supportive. It's thrilling to see how much people get behind the organization and the fund-raiser."

In addition to the art created by campers, this year's auction included works by Michael Godard, Yuroz, Sergey Cherep, Bill Lopa and Steve Barton, along with work by both amateur and professional artists from around the valley.

Tillman said during the four days campers stay at Torino Ranch, they work on various art projects each day, including painting on canvas, tiles and glass, or working on clay sculptures and papier-m?ch projects. Many ideas for art projects come from community members.

While each child can work on their own projects, the campers also work together on a bigger collaborative effort, and those pieces are highlighted during the Art & Innocence Celebration.

"Some of the kids prefer to work on the collaborative projects, and some are stunning artists and create beautiful pieces on their own," Tillman said. "They really focus on creating a masterpiece, and when they work on these projects they feel so empowered, so proud of themselves.

"This year's event was really successful all-around. I'm thrilled with the way it turned out, and I know next year is going to be even better."

In addition to art projects, campers at Project Sunshine at Torino Ranch participate in a range of other activities including swimming, rock climbing, horseback riding, theater, scavenger hunts and hayrides.

Tillman said the camp is largely run through the help of volunteers, and she's always looking for more help.

"People can sponsor a camper or a whole camp, and there are always opportunities to donate new items like bottled water, juice packs, backpacks, anything kids need when they go to camp," she said.

For Tillman, the best part of the Art & Innocence Celebration is the feeling of accomplishment and achievement the fund-raiser brings to the campers.

"These children have such incredible challenges," she said. "They use art to get out their frustrations and to live out their dreams, and some truly amazing artwork comes out of that. And when people bid $400 or $500, even $700 for these pieces, the best part is seeing their faces when their art raises that much money. It makes them feel that they've really contributed and given something back."

For more information on Project Sunshine of Nevada, call 434-3699.