By Amy Knutson, Education & Programs Assistant
Did you know volunteering makes you live forever? Fine, not technically forever, but studies have shown that volunteering increases self-confidence, combats depression, AND adds years to your life. That being said, volunteering is very admirable, and something many organizations such as P.S. ARTS appreciate in helping make the services we provide a success. I am struck by how many people volunteer with P.S. ARTS in our classrooms, at Family Art Nights, festivals, and fundraising events, on our Board of Trustees, and beyond.
Events like Express Yourself couldn’t happen without volunteers, and we LOVE having helpers at our 20+ Family Art Nights. Countless hours are donated by individuals who empty water buckets, teach kids how to properly wield a paintbrush, run art booths, check guests in at fundraising events, and more. There are no words to express how grateful we are to them for their time and limitless energy. Without their help, we wouldn’t be able to achieve our ultimate goal: improving the lives of thousands of children in our community through arts education.
We also must acknowledge many of our steadfast parents who contribute their time in a variety of ways. We had parents in Wiseburn help our Visual Teaching Artist, Tiffany Graham, with a community mural at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School. The parents at Baldwin Hills Elementary School worked with our after-school dance teacher, Malinda Williams, to coordinate a lively Motown Revue fundraising performance that happened this past week. And of course, we can’t forget the parents who braved the 95-degree weather in Downtown Los Angeles this past month to chaperone a Camino Nuevo visual arts field trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Without their time and investment, we wouldn’t have been able to pull off these events and provide the children we serve with these crucial arts and cultural experiences.
A huge, huge THANK YOU from all of us at P.S. ARTS to our loyal volunteers who have dedicated so much to help improve children’s lives through arts education. We truly appreciate your contributions and commitment to our organization.
Interested in volunteering for P.S. ARTS? Check out all the different ways to get involved. Right now we are looking for volunteers for our annual TakePART Festival at the end of May. We hope to see you there!
