Press release bids-4-kids fundraising - Immediate release!

Final Press
bids-4-kids


CONTACT: Blaine Hudson
Hole in the Wall Camps
(203) 562-1203 ext 20
bhudson@holeinthewallcamps.org

CONTACT: Patty Baker
bids-4-kids Committee Member
(303) 215-1566
patty@lookoutstudios.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Hundreds of Artists Raise $15,500 on eBay to
Benefit ‘Hole in the Wall’ Camps
Hundreds of Works from Self-Representing Artists Sold to Benefit Camps for
Children with Serious Illnesses and Life Threatening Conditions


NEW HAVEN, Conn. – August 1, 2005 – “You’ve gotta have art!” That’s what hundreds of self-representing eBay artists from across the United States and Canada thought as they banded together July 15-25 to sell their art and donate proceeds to support art programs of Hole in the Wall Camps (HITWC).

From July 15-25, 2005, artists with original works listed within eBay’s Art Category ( http://art.ebay.com) participated in an unprecedented grassroots charity benefit, bids-4-kids. Artists listed nearly 750 original paintings, sculptures, prints and even painted rocks for the event and donated between 10% and 100% of their proceeds to go directly to Hole in the Wall Camps’ art programs. For more information >>>>

"I’m very happy to have been one of the many artists who donated their work to this worthy cause. It’s so fantastic to think, that our artwork sold on eBay has made a difference in the lives of some very special kids. I can’t wait to see what else we’ll do." Participating Artist, Robin (ebay id: rockartbyrobin)

Paul Newman founded the first Hole in the Wall Camp in Ashford, Conn., in 1988. To date, nearly 100,000 children worldwide have attended Hole in the Wall Camps and programs free of charge in California, Connecticut, New York, Florida, France, England, North Carolina, Ireland, Israel (opening in 2006), and programs in Africa, and Thailand. HITWC provide magical camp experiences for children with conditions such as cancer, hemophilia, Crohn’s & Colitis, sickle cell anemia and HIV/AIDS. In addition to arts and crafts, children at HITWC participate in swimming, horseback riding, ropes courses, theater and outdoor camping.

”It is wonderful to see such enthusiasm and commitment by these artists to support the mission of the Hole in the Wall Camps to serve more children with serious illnesses.” said Stocky Clark, Executive Director of HITWC.

"The grass roots effort by the more than 500 Bids-4-Kids artists was truly uplifting," said Drew Marich, Director of Collectibles, Toys and Sports at eBay. "This benefit demonstrates the impact members of the eBay community can have, in this case, using their self-created artwork to further inspire seriously ill children to find joy through art.”

Selling art online is only ten years old, but it has revolutionized the way art is traded. Today, the self-representing art community on eBay is a fast growing segment within eBay’s Art category, and is considered one of the largest and most diverse in the United States. Thousands of artists list and sell original artwork on the eBay site, where more than 460 independent works are sold each day.

Artists are taking charge and delivering paintings right into customers’ hands without gallery openings or commissions. Artists are also changing the way they donate to charities. Typically, artists donate artwork and non-profit entities would sell the artwork to raise funds. With the help of the eBay selling venue and eBay Giving Works ( http://givingworks.ebay.com), all the charity needs to do is collect their funds.

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