OUR MISSION
More than an art nonprofit
The Kindness Art Education delivers programs designed to create active connections between people that empower children to create compassionate and fulfilling lives. Art is the medium we use to ignite love of self and love of learning in students, excite children and families to come to school, and empower children to expand their ideas about their future.
Activating Portrait Pals is our primary focus—an innovative program designed to engage children through experiential lessons in math, science, visual narrative, and social/emotional wellness.
Portrait Pals and Tonya allow students to connect through their artistic expression. Without even meeting each other, the Pals struggle together, express themselves together, and connect all while being miles apart and complete strangers. It has been a blessing to have the program at our school.
— LEAH BERNS, ART TEACHER, SOPRIS ELEMENTARY
Dismantling the status quo
Today, many children do not receive a full, well-rounded education. We need to embrace empowering and creative solutions to make big changes.
The Kindness Art Education is more than an art nonprofit—we provide an opportunity to supplement students' education, inside and outside of their classroom. We are dedicated to sparking positive social change through the arts and connection.
Absenteeism at American schools is at a staggeringly high 31%. Simply put, ⅓ of our children don’t regularly attend school. Portrait Pals offers a tangible, immediate reason for children to be at school. According to several Harvard* studies, parent/family engagement in education is vital to a child's success. Our programs attracts families and caregivers to see their children's portraits, thus encouraging them to see their children with a new perspective.
ENGAGED
HANDS-ON
We deliver programs directly to the communities we wish to impact. Rather than asking those we serve to come to us, we go directly to our participants and meet them where they are. Teachers and educators value having extra, skilled adults in their classroom, as well as the additional support to schools during their school day. Children are also connected to communities beyond their immediate school environment in order to expand their points of view and ways of thinking.
Even in schools where there is an art program, Portrait Pals is welcomed by educators because our supplementary programming gives students valuable lessons in math, science, visual narrative, social & emotional wellness, and resilience. Exhibitions at school we partner with gives children exposure to the arts and helps make art institutions welcoming and relevant.
COMPREHENSIVE
All art materials, brushes, canvases, photographers, and portrait lessons are supplied by The Kindness Art Education so children have the opportunity to learn and engage with the highest-quality art supplies, just like the professionals do, in order to elevate their self-esteem and skills.
PREMIUM SUPPLIES
THE KINDNESS EMPIRE
A Partnership for Creative Impact
The Kindness Art Education is partially supported by its for-profit sister company, The Kindness Empire, an enterprise dedicated to the same mission of fostering human connection and creativity. A portion of The Kindness Empire’s profits directly funds our art education programs, providing the essential art materials and weekly classes that inspire and empower young minds.
Founded by the same passionate and visionary leader, both organizations work in harmony to nurture the next generation of creative thinkers and compassionate individuals.
A ONE-OF-A-KIND PROGRAM
Portrait Pals
Activated by The Kindness Art Education, a Colorado-based, 501(c)3, nonprofit organization
By participating in Portrait Pals, children open their hearts and minds to new possibilities. The paintings they create serve as lasting reminders of their importance and worth. Additionally, Portrait Pals equips children with sophisticated skills and fosters connections beyond their immediate community, empowering them to explore broader horizons.
In our class sessions, we teach the basics and intricacies of composition and painting portraits. Along the way, children learn about perspective, creativity, visual communication, overcoming challenges, and compassion for self and others.
HOW PORTRAIT PALS WORKS
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All participating students at two schools have their picture taken by a professional photographer. Children are encouraged to be themselves—authenticity is key to Portrait Pals potency.
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Each child fills in a brief questionnaire to share with their Pal. Children answer questions such as, “What is your best advice for someone moving to your community?” and “What was the first thing you heard when you woke up this morning?” or “What do you wish people knew about you?”
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We use the questionnaires to pair children from schools with their Portrait Pals!
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The Kindness Art Education delivers five portrait class sessions to each school during the school day so that every child can participate.
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All art materials, brushes, canvases, photographers, and portrait lessons are supplied by The Kindness Art Education. The paint palette is intentionally limited so that children are challenged to learn to mix their own colors, including their Pal’s unique skin tone. Children are taught to consider how to capture the spirit of their Pal and make it visible on the canvas.
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Every child is interviewed for their personal artist statements, which are part of the culminating exhibitions.
— JULIE ADAMS BLOW, THIRD GRADE TEACHER, HALLETT ACADEMY
Seeing Portrait Pals in action with all the social connections is so heartwarming. All students were successful. Students got to see themselves through another person’s eyes, they knew they were special just because they participated in Portrait Pals. They learned a lot about art, perspective, taking risks, and color-making. If you’re considering Portrait Pals for your community, you should go for it!
WHY GIVE?
Elevate children to thrive
You can be assured that your donation is dedicated to supporting children and schools.We are nimble and focus our resources on delivering value to our communities.
We deliver programs directly to our communities, thus there is no overhead for buildings. We meet our stakeholders where they are.
$15,000 brings a Portrait Pals program to a school and, through the artistic process, gives children valuable lessons in math, science, visual narrative, perspective, resilience, and art. 71% of The Kindness Art Education budget is dedicated to programming. 29% is allocated to operations.
BE PART OF EMPOWERING CHILDREN TO CREATE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES
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$15,000 brings a Portrait Pals program to a school.
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$4,200 gives a school quality art supplies for Portrait Pals
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$1,000 pays for a Portrait Pals teacher in the classroom
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$500 pays for community exhibition so Pals can see their artwork
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$100 pays for professional photographic prints for children to keep
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$70 Gives one Portrait Pal quality art supplies
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Every donation matters and is tax-deductible!
PORTRAIT PALS SPOTLIGHT
Harmoni & Ann
Harmoni and Ann were matched through a Portrait Pals program bringing together children and seniors to create meaningful connections through art. After the program concluded, Ann expressed her fondness for Harmoni by knitting her a hat, a heartfelt gesture through another form of creative expression.
Even though Harmoni has since moved on from Hallett Academy, Ann continues to knit hats for the children there, extending her kindness and ensuring that the spirit of the program lives on through her ongoing contributions.
I hope Ann sees stuff that I tried to do and that I think she’ll appreciate my hard work, love, and care. I hope Ann sees that I have intelligence, kindness, hard-working, loving, and caring in me. When I’m old, kids will come to learn about how to build an arch because I want to be a designer/architect. Kids will ask me how and show me a lot of respect.
— HARMONI, HALETT ACADEMY
Green is my favorite color because it’s the color of life. Today, in a dream world, I would be on a cruise. My advice for my 9-year-old self is ‘Learn something new every day that makes you excited.'
— ANN, ST. ANDREWS SENIOR LIVING CENTER
My advice for my 9-year-old self is ‘Keep up your art. A hobby is so valuable in life. Always do what you want to do, be where you want to be.'
— PHILLYS, ST. ANDREWS SENIOR LIVING CENTER
NEWS & UPDATES
Follow your impact
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THURSDAY · NOVEMBER 14, 2024 · 5:00PM
"Do You See What I See?"
Thank you for making The Kindness Art Education’s inaugural Education Gala, a success!
Guests were treated to dinner and drinks while connecting with philanthropists and artists in a stunning, intimate setting. This special fundraiser also featured a silent auction, perfect for holiday shopping, with all proceeds supporting our mission.
We offered two types of tickets:
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5:00pm–6:30pm: Happy Hour with wine, cheese, and access to a silent auction featuring artist Monique Crine ($25/person). Leslie Price won this incredible opportunity for Monique to paint a portrait of a loved one (pets or people!). The happy pup portrait was painted by Monique.
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5:00pm–8:00pm: Happy Hour, Silent Auction, dinner, drinks, and a creative project to inspire! ($150/person)
— DEB SIMS FARD, SECOND GRADE TEACHER, STEDMAN ELEMENTARY
Teaching art to children authentically is to teach freedom of thought, speech, time, and place. Art through the vehicle of kindness is transformation.
