Regina Hona

Hi, Help us to support Very Special Kids and to make this our best exhibition ever.

My name is Regina Hona. Together with Gayle Goldsmith and Anne Hope who are my fellow Curators, we are planning charitable art exhibition for Very Special Kids. Below you can also see most of the dedicated art show team with the Giant Piggy Banks (as part of the annual Piggy Bank Appeal) which you may have seen on their travels in Melbourne and regional Victoria.



We are all registered Friends’ Volunteers who support Very Special Kids. We are always looking for ways to run events and we are planning an art exhibition to open on the 27th February 2014. There will be paintings from well-known professional and emerging artists showcasing a variety of contemporary, abstract, and realist art. I curated the last art event for Very Special Kids in 2010 and have been involved in staging several events through my own personal exhibitions; with Fusion6; The Australian Guild of Realist Artists’, and St. Kevin’s College in Toorak.

We are seeking your help so that estimated costs of $4500 can be met to run an art show of the quality we have in mind to be successful.

I'd like to tell you a little bit about Very Special Kids so that you know why we are so dedicated to this cause. Very Special Kids was established in 1985 to provide counselling and support services to families caring for a child diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. Following the death of a child, families are also supported through the bereavement support program. They also operate Very Special Kids House, an eight bed children’s hospice providing planned and emergency respite and end-of-life care.



Very Special Kids depends on the community and fundraising activities for more than $3.3 million of their annual income. All services are offered free-of-charge to families.

Any support we are able to give ensures that Very Special Kids can go on providing counselling and support services to families facing what is one of life’s most difficult challenges.

Very Special Kids have use of this beautiful heritage building in which the art exhibition will be held.




Although we would welcome all forms of large or small sponsorship, the running costs we anticipate are for the: -

· hire costs of several display panels and verandah marquee This will allow for a greater area to showcase the paintings, $2700;
· for a People’s Choice prize, $500;
· printing and stationery costs, $630;
· and incidental costs for running the event, $670.

Should pledges exceed our goal, the extra money will be passed on to Very Special Kids at the end of the exhibition.

REWARDS:

It is difficult to offer rewards that don’t drain funds when the intention is to support Very Special Kids, so we would like to offer you the following.

1. For pledges up to $50 you would receive a special Thank You Card as well as the satisfaction of supporting such a worthwhile charity.
2. For pledges of $50+ you would receive the same as Reward #1 plus your name would appear on the special supporter wall during the exhibition (unless you wish to remain anonymous).
3. For a pledge of $100+ you will receive Reward #2 plus one free Opening Night ticket valued at $25.
4. For a pledge of $200+ you will receive Reward #2 plus two opening night tickets valued at $50. Plus, go into a draw to win an unframed life-size charcoal drawing done by me (Regina Hona), of a person of your choice – Value $900. I will personally contact the winner of the draw and you will also be acknowledged on www.friendsgalleryvsk.weebly.com



We are keen to find a ‘special’ person to open the exhibition. In the past we have had Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, Marina Prior, Rebecca Maddern from Channel 7, Peter Russell-Clark, Alan Fletcher from Neighbours and others. We would be delighted to hear about any contact you my have who would be willing to open the show. You can reach me through the contact link on www.friendsgalleryvsk.weebly.com website.

We would be so happy to receive any pledge large or small. If interested in visiting the art show, please also register your details at www.friendsgalleryvsk.weebly.com so we can email or post you an invitation card at the appropriate time.

I encourage you to also visit the Very Special Kids website and find out more about this amazing charity www.vsk.org.au

So please spread the word, LIKE US on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Friends-Gallery and we thank you in anticipation of your fantastic support !!!