Article Courtesy of The Chase – https://www.enmuthechaseonline.com/
By Zack Santos
For the Portales Rotary Club, art auctions are not just events – they are about making a difference. Since March, the Rotary Club has been inviting kids across eastern New Mexico paint canvases to auction off on Saturday, Sept. 14 in their inaugural “Painting a Better Story” event. “We provide all the supplies from paint to canvas; all they have to do is show up and paint,” said Amy Corbin, Rotary Club President.
The Rotary Club is a service organization that focuses on hosting and assisting the community. Its members donate their time and raise money to improve the community. In the past, the Rotary Club has hosted events such as last spring’s mini-golf tournament to raise money and donations for hunger reduction efforts.
The Rotary Club began collaborating with Oasis Children’s Advocacy Center in Clovis when the additional funds for the program were needed. “The Oasis administers forensic interviews for children who are victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or witnesses to a violent crime,” Corbin said.
This agency’s mission is to reduce trauma for children who are victims of these situations. “The agency is a vital part of helping these kids in the community,” said Corbin.
“The general idea was presented to Oasis and Rotary Club, and we all just ran with it,” Corbin said. Corbin explained that the overall mission of “Painting a Better Story” is to raise as many funds as possible for Oasis to continue operating. 100% of the funds raised will be donated to Oasis.
The Rotary Club’s goal is to raise $20,000 or more. “It is a bit of a stretch, but so far it has been a huge success and we’ve gotten great support from the community,” Corbin said. It has been so much of a success that the
community will have the opportunity to bid on over 400 pieces of art. Corbin and the Rotary Club plan for the event to grow every year, and in two to three years, hope to evolve it into a banquet dinner
auction.
The event will begin on Friday, Sept. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Clovis Civic Center. Kids will present their art and the community will preview the pieces at the start of the event. The silent auction will begin Friday night and run into Saturday. The live auction will also begin at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets are available ahead of time for $25 on Eventbrite.com, or on the event’s Facebook page. Tickets are also available at the door for $30.
For more information, contact Corbin at 575-749-1118.
