‘MISA FOR LOVE’ FOUNDATION INAUGURAL EVENT RAISES $15,000
Event Raised Funds for Art Therapy Programs in Partnership with Local Nonprofit Organizations to Provide Developmental Opportunities for At-Risk Youth Throughout Chicago

CHICAGO (October, 2014) – On Wednesday, October 22, the Misa for Love Foundation hosted 40 passionate individuals for an evening of cocktails and artistic expression at Frankie’s Scaloppine to benefit art therapy programs for at-risk and special needs youth. The Misa For Love Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children with an outlet to express themselves artistically and implementing programs designed to facilitate positive growth and development.

Misa Art fine art collection pieces were available for purchase with a portion of proceeds going towards future art therapy programs. The central piece, which was created by children in partnership with the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club of Chicago was sold through silent auction, with 50% going back to the Boys & Girls Club and 50% towards the Misa for Love Foundation.

Misa For Love has most recently partnered with Conductive Education at the Center for Independence, Sinai Community Center of Chicago, and the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club of Chicago to implement art programs that range between two days and three weeks in length. The life-altering collaborations allow participants to engage in activities that use the body as well as art tools to produce individual artistic creations with the goal of improving communication skills and physical abilities and building self-confidence. Misa For Love’s primary objective is to create a safe place for the children to express themselves, create without judgment, self-reflect, and thus grow from the experience of collective art making.

“I’m honored by the generosity of our esteemed guests,” says Misa Art, Founder and Executive Director of Misa For Love. “The Foundation was able to raise $15,000, which will allow us to not only continue to fund therapy programs with our current non-profit partners, but also expand to work with new organizations to give kids the tools to express themselves in a healthy way through artistic creation.”

Misa is a Chicago-based multimedia artist, originally from the Czech Republic who is known for her use of a variety of mixed medias, including metal and wood.  Throughout her career, Misa has supported many charities by donating pieces to their benefits and has since set out to establish an organization of her own in order to make a greater impact on the development of some of Chicago’s most challenged youth.  To learn more about the Misa for Love Foundation, visit www.potentialaccess.com.

Validus Senior Living^TM to Conduct Special Art

with the Misa For Love Foundation

“Alzheimer’s Didn’t Steal Their Creativity” Is a Unique Project to Feature Original Works of Art by the Residents of InspiredLiving^SM at Hidden Lakes. 

TAMPA, FL (February 7, 2014) – The Misa For Love Foundation is initiating the first program for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease entitled, “Alzheimer’s Didn’t Steal Their Creativity,” in conjunction with Validus Senior Living^TM on Wednesday, February 5. Misa for Love is a new philanthropic organization dedicated to assisting people with challenges by providing them a form of release through art expression. For the event, the foundation will bring its mobile program to InspiredLiving ^SM   at Hidden Lakes, Bradenton’s leading memory care residential community, located at 1200 54th Ave. West in Bradenton.

The project, coordinated by Misa Art (https://vimeo.com/75121701), is designed to provide loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other form of memory loss with a means of engaging their minds and creative talents in an enjoyable and productive way. InspiredLiving   at Hidden Lakes will purchase the piece of artwork created by residents, the proceeds of which will benefit the Misa for Love non-profit organization. As part of the project, other individual works of art created by the residents will also be purchased by the facility and prominently displayed within the facility.

The foundation’s founder, Misa, believes everyone is an artist. “These individuals with Alzheimer’s have different physical and mental impairments. But the disease has not altered any of their creativity and this allows them to feel safe in order to express themselves.

“A simple dot of paint can convey more meaning than these residents can express verbally. Color is not something that needs to be remembered, it is seen and can be displayed in any form, and everything that is created has its own beauty and meaning to the person.”

Says Regional Director of Program Development at Validus Senior Living , AJ Cipperly, “This unique, hands-on initiative provides our residents with an enjoyable opportunity to be mentally and physically engaged and to express their creative energies in an inspired and highly positive way. In addition to offering our residents a sense of pride and accomplishment, the project also helps to raise awareness of the growing issue of memory care in our country and affords us with an opportunity to support Alzheimer’s research. We thank Misa, who has conducted similar successful art projects with special needs children, for her interest in participating with us and making this wonderful program available to our residents.”

For the project, Misa and her assistants will work with the residents and participating family members to create original works of art on wood. They will then take all of the pieces back to her studio and create one large work of art, which will be purchased by InspiredLiving at Hidden Lakes (https://vimeo.com/75669902). The proceeds from the purchase will then be donated to Misa for Love to continue their mission of encouraging creativity in individuals with dementia.

Says Ms. Cipperly, “Alzheimer’s and dementia can steal their memories and even their ability to speak, but no matter what stage of disease they’re in, they can still express themselves through art!”

Adds Twila Young, InspiredLiving at Hidden Lakes Executive Director, “All of us here are very excited about this wonderful opportunity to participate in such a worthy program that also provides an opportunity to showcase the talents of our wonderful residents. Working with art is highly therapeutic and gives our residents a means to express themselves that may not be available in other aspects of their lives. The project is definitely a ‘win-win’ for everyone involved, and our special thanks go out to Misa and her foundation for their commitment to using art as a unique means for engaging and inspiring those whose lives have been affected by memory loss.”

For more information on this unique event, please call 941-254-7990 or email tyoung@HiddenLakesLiving.com.

About the Misa For Love Foundation

The Misa For Love Foundation was established November 2013. It is dedicated to assisting people in need through the use of artistic expression. The foundation provides children and other individuals with a venue to express themselves artistically and implement programs designed to facilitate and direct their emotional and physical healing.

About Validus Senior Living^TM

Validus Senior Living is a trusted resource for exceptional senior living services. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Validus Senior Living operates throughout the southeastern U.S. Validus  Senior Living provides a complete continuum of leading-edge senior living services – from creating the most vibrant and livable communities for today’s discerning seniors, to offering property development, acquisition and management expertise. Validus Senior Living is an affiliate of Validus Group, a private investment management firm that develops, owns and manages real estate and real estate related businesses.

Validus Senior Living currently operates InspiredLiving at Hidden Lakes in Bradenton, InspiredLiving at Ivy Ridge in St. Petersburg and our newly opened InspiredLivingat Sarasota. The company also just announced plans to develop two additional new memory care communities, InspiredLiving at Sun City and InspiredLiving at Lakewood Ranch, which will be among the most technologically advanced communities of their kind in Florida.

For information on Validus Senior Living, please call 813-330-2660 or visit www.ValidusSeniorLiving.com.