PAST EVENTS
Nov. 11, 2005: It's Veterans Day, Thank a Soldier!
Art for Soldiers contributed approximately 2,200 pieces of children's art to be included in c_rats® shipped to those serving worldwide by Operation Interdependence, Inc.(www.OIdelivers.org).
AFS and OI shared a float led by the Lake Travis High School cheerleaders. After the parade AFS, in conjunction with BOBFM radio, held an art drive in front of Wal-Mart, where more art was recruited to send to our deployed.
On the right: A WWII vet on his way into the Wal-Mart stopped to write a letter to the currently deployed.
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Heather McMahan, C.O.O. of AFS, at the back of the joint OI-AFS float.
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Nina Gayheart of OI and Heather McMahan of AFS in front of the AFS booth. The sign is in Spanish because McMahan appeared on Univision to ask for art from Hispanic children for Hispanic soldiers.
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Lake Travis HS JV Cheerleaders in the convertible belonging to Scott, the
only (and very lucky) male on the team.
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Sept. 11, 2005: It's Patriots Day, Thank a Soldier!
 | Heather McMahan, AFS founder, with the 12 winning artists (out of 600 art works submitted). Winners were selected by a panel of six judges at the AFS event at the Capitol.
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Hosted by the Austin Children's Museum,
201 Colorado St.
The Art For Soldiers Foundation will present twelve computers donated by The National Cristina Foundation (www.cristina.org) to the winners of our "It's Flag Day! Thank A Soldier Art Exhibit" that took place at The Capitol on june 14th.
Of the 600 pieces of Art we received, most thanks to The Children's Courtyard, 3 judges selected 12 winners. We will have an art exhibit, an awards ceremony, and another Call For Art.
The Art For Soldiers Foundation has partnered with OI, Operation Interdependence (www.oidelivers.org) which delivers all the Art for us directly to the front lines within 9 days!
OUR MOST URGENT NEED IS TO SUPPLY EVERY SOLDIER WITH A THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS CARD FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. We need as much help as possible to get the word out and have people send us the cards! All that is required is an 8x10 piece of paper with a drawing and note of appreciation or encouragement to the soldier, mailed to AFS 12400 HWY 71 W suite 350-138 Austin, Tx 78738.
We are pleased to announce that the Children's Museum has very generously agreed to set up a Thank A Soldier activity center where children can come and make the card with the provided supplies, leave it in the collection box, AFS will reproduce each piece 10 times on a color copy machine and deliver all Art to OI to be sent immediately to the front lines.
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Guests and general public admiring the Art by the children for AFS
at the Children's Museum
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Heather McMahan interviewing one of the winners about what she meant to
express with her art.
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Some of the twelve children who won computers (donated by NCF) for their
moving art collecting their PCs.
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The joint AFS-NCF display.
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Heather McMahan conversing with the mother of one of the winners. The
winner was too shy to speak for herself, but her impressive artwork was
influenced by the fact that her brother, a marine, was killed in action
just seven months before.
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Heather McMahan, C.O.O. of AFS, front of the NCF/AFS joint display at
the Austin Children's museum on Patriot Day, Nov. 11.
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Sept. 6, 2005: It's Labor Day, Thank a Soldier!
This coming Labor day The Art For Soldiers Foundation will host a packaging event, putting together care packages with children's art destined for soldiers deployed abroad.
Also visit www.heathermcmahansculpture.com/sculptures.htm to view the sculptures.
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Operation Interdependence® is the premier civilian-to-military delivery system® that provides a means for Americans to demonstrate their support of our deployed military forces by supplying them with a note from home and the everyday items they miss. These boxes were jointly packaged by OI and AFS and include children's art created for the soldier's encouragement.
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We will present a visual of the entire process, from start to finish, of how we collect art and notes from children and then send it directly to the front lines. It will begin with our largest contributors of art to date, The Children's Courtyard, drawing and writing notes to the soldiers. An AFS volunteer then takes the art and reproduces each piece 5 times on a color copy machine. The originals and the copies are prepared and then handed to an OI (Operation Interdependence; www.oidelivers.org) volunteer who then places each piece of art in a quart-sized ziplock baggie containing C-rats or, civilian rations, consisting of small little things from home like candy, toothpaste, phone cards, etc... AFS has partnered with OI because they are a civilian to military delivery system that does not interfere with military operations, and delivers directly to the front lines within 9 days. OI believes the most important thing in the package is the note from home, and AFS has agreed to send all the art we collect via the OI system.
The Christian Choral Society will perform several Patriotic songs under a tent with a p.a. system, and the Texas national Guard will open with the Presentation of Colors and pledge of allegiance. The National Guard will also provide other activities for the children to acquaint them with the life of a soldier. We are expecting a well known Political Leader to help us set an example so others will want to become involved by helping us package.
Our event will begin at 1pm and end at 3pm. Our MOST URGENT NEED IS TO GATHER THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM THE PUBLIC, AS WE ARE TRYING TO SUPPLY THE ENTIRE DEPLOYED MILITARY (250,000!) FOR THE COMING HOLIDAY SEASON. WE URGENTLY NEED MORE ART! PLEASE SEND ANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ART FOR SOLDIERS FOUNDATION, 12400 HWY 71W SUITE 350-138, Austin, TX 78738.
Our hope is that a member of the media will help us take our plea Nationally, we need almost every state involved to help us meet this goal
Thank You For Your Support!!!!
June 14, 2005: It's Flag Day, Thank a Soldier!
The Art for Soldiers Foundation and the National Guard at Camp Mabry presented:
"It's Flag Day... Thank A Soldier!" Art Exhibit
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Lauren Beller, here aged 9, and her band performing at the AFS
Flag Day event.
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The Art For Soldiers Foundation is URGENTLY seeking art for the June 14th exhibit at the Texas Capitol in Austin, located on Congress and 11 th st. from 11am to 2:00pm.
We seek drawings, paintings and poetry expressing appreciation for a Soldier, from children ages 4 to 14. All art must be able to fit, folded if necessary, into an 8/12'X11" envelope; for after being on exhibit in the Gallery of the Capitol for one week, each piece will be delivered to an active duty service member overseas.
While on display the art will be judged by our panel of distinguished judges including Matt Coldwell, City Of Austin Arts Coordinator; Matt Hubbard, recording artist and engineer for Willie Nelson; Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada, and Retired Brigadier General Rod Wood. The top 4 winners will be welcomed into the art For Soldiers Studios where they will be free to create sculptures, paintings, or mixed media creations.
It is sad and unfortunate that, though we have sent over two hundred registration forms out to various institutions, we do not yet have sufficient art. This is an urgent plea to Austinites to remember those who are serving this Nation in Combat. Please show our troops some support! Bring your art with a message for a soldier to The Capitol June 14 at 10:45 am and we will display it promptly!
or E-MAIL: heather.mcmahan@artforsoldiers.org
Opening ceremonies begin begin at 11am at the main entrance to The Capitol with Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada of Camp Mabry leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Recording Artist Pauline Reese will lead the crowd in singing The National Anthem.
Also featured will be 8 yr. old rising star Lauren Beller with her famous "Soldier's Prayer"; Country Western Star Opie Hendrix; The Angel Recovery Church Choir; Willie B and The Triple Threat.
Songwriter Lisa Maynard will debut her song based on the poem "Our Friends The Fallen" written by SSG Zach Wobler while serving in Iraq. Zach is credited with inspiring the birth of The Art For Soldiers Foundation by expressing his deep appreciation for "Welcome Home", a sculpture by founder Heather McMahan placed in the Austin Airport to welcome home any soldiers passing through.
The original Welcome Home Sculpture, along with Zachs' and other soldiers' letters, will be on display in The Capitol Art Gallery as well.
Our Master of Ceremonies will be none other than Tyler Sieswerda, ABC channel 24 newscaster.
The Art For Soldiers Foundation and Camp Mabry Welcome the public to celebrate our freedom, our flag, and those who defend it on Flag Day, June 14 th 2005.
REMEMBER TO WEAR RED, WHITE AND BLUE!!
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