JOPLIN, Mo. —
A Joplin art program is about to enter the national spotlight.
Art Feeds — a nonprofit program that offers art instruction to elementary-age students — is one of 25 charities selected as finalists for television network NBC’s American Giving Awards.
During a ceremony set to air on Dec. 8, a total of $2 million will be granted to the five charities receiving the most votes, with $1 million going to the top vote-getter. The charities are broken up into five categories: Educators & Mentors, Heroes & Leaders, Champions of Health & Wellness, Community Builders, and Youth Development.
Art Feeds was nominated in the Youth Development category.
Meg Bourne, founder and executive director of Art Feeds, said the nomination for the NBC program stemmed from a recent grant award.
Earlier this year, Art Feeds was awarded a $20,000 grant through Chase Community Giving, which was based on the results of online voting.
Last month, the Chase program selected 25 causes to spotlight for the upcoming American Giving Awards.
“We were notified about a month and a half ago (of the American Giving Awards nomination), but we were under confidentiality until Nov. 14,” Bourne said.
A video crew recently came to Joplin to film a segment about Art Feeds — which works with students who have been affected by trauma — that will be featured during the upcoming broadcast.
Bourne and her staff at Art Feeds will fly to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony, the host for which will be “Community” star Joel McHale.
In August, Art Feeds was a finalist for the national Do Something Awards and received $10,000 to expand its children’s programs. And in January, the program was spotlighted in the finale of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
“We’ve had so many people rally around us in the past voting grants we’ve been in,” Bourne said. “Joplin is really strong, and we’re proud to be a symbol of just a small piece of Joplin.”
She said Art Feeds has worked with more than 12,500 students in 10 Joplin schools.
Voting for the awards will begin Tuesday and conclude Dec. 4. Votes may be cast via www.nbc.com/americangivingawards or on Facebook at http://artfeeds.org/aga.
Information
FOR INFORMATION on Art Feeds, or to become a volunteer for the program, people may email meg@artfeeds.org.
May 2011 Joplin tornado
Art Feeds nominated for American Giving Awards
- May 2011 Joplin tornado
-
-
Illinois youth group arrives in Joplin to assemble house
Break time was approaching, but Keith Duncan wanted to make one last concentrated push in order to get the large Penske truck unloaded. “Two minutes, people! Two minutes!” he yelled as the students and adults hauling large wooden sections out of the truck began picking up the pace.
-
SLIDESHOW: One year later, One day of unity, updated
Photos from a day of events commemorating the May 22, 2011 tornado anniversary
-
Last of 586 FEMA trailers in Joplin to be prepared for move
For 19 months, rows of nearly 600 units spread out among community and commercial sites were a visual reminder of the homes lost in Joplin on May 22, 2011. One by one, contractors began disassembling and moving the trailers, a testament to their occupants having found places to live.
-
Civil engineers release study of Joplin tornado damage
It did not take much wind to flatten houses in the Joplin tornado zone because so many were poorly constructed to withstand wind, according to a study released recently by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
-
Rescuers, tornado victims reunite at Quapaw station
There were lots of hugs exchanged, pictures taken and memories summoned when fire crews on Friday met the two youngsters they pulled, critically injured, from the wreckage of Joplin’s 2011 tornado.
-
Quapaw tribe’s firefighters, EMS personnel meet with children rescued at Home Depot in 2011
There were hugs, stories and the occasional tear this morning when two children who were trapped and seriously injured after the 2011 Joplin tornado met for the first time the Quapaw Tribe firefighters and emergency medical workers who pulled them from the wreckage and saved their lives that night.
-
New members take seats on redevelopment board
Three new members took their places on the board of the Joplin Redevelopment Corp. in a meeting Thursday. The panel welcomed as new members Laurie Delano, vice president of finance for Empire District Electric Co.; Gary Duncan, retired president and chief executive of Freeman Health System; and Phil Stinnett, a former Joplin council member and mayor.
-
Tornado grant trustees look to shelter placement
Trustees overseeing a Joplin tornado fund hope to use some of their remaining money to move FEMA-financed tornado shelters to areas where they are needed.
-
Documentary about Joplin Globe coverage of tornado wins 2013 Mirror Award
The documentary “Deadline in Disaster” has won a 2013 Mirror Award in the “Best Single Story” category.
-
Oklahoma photo collection to begin with ‘Picture Patrol’
A new national photo rescue operation based in Carthage that formed to help salvage and return to owners what was lost in the Joplin tornado has reached out to Moore, Okla., and next week will help storm victims there get down to business.
- More May 2011 Joplin tornado Headlines
-
