{The Shine On Project completed at the end of January 2018.}
I am so proud to say that in a little over three months the Shine On Project raised nearly $15,000!!!
The money was used to purchase solar powered headlamps for refugees in two different settlements in Uganda. A small portion was also given to refugees in Somalia.
I truly poured my heart into this project. I sold my art. I convinced my kids to spend a winter afternoon holding signs out on the sidewalks of a busy intersection. I mailed postcards to my entire Christmas card list. I held fundraising events. I created marketing materials. I wrote blogs and press releases. I secured a sponsor to create a foundation. I oversaw a large art installation created by 150 kids. I reached out to every contact I knew and recruited ambassadors. I even swallowed my fear and went on live tv!
I witnessed so many wonderful acts of generosity.
I am so proud to be friends with all who helped out.
This project would not have been possible without the backing of the Tradition Companies. Their willingness to purchase the initial 150 headlamps is what really started this project.
Although this project has currently stopped… I am not convinced that this is the end of the Shine On Project.
Stay tuned! We will see where inspiration leads!
Love, Jill
ARCHIVED SHINE ON PROJECT PAGE:
October 2017: I am excited to announce The Shine On Project! The goal of this project is to send as many solar powered lights as possible to the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda.
I visited the refugee settlement over the summer with the American Refugee Committee (ARC).
This three month project is about creating an intersection between the various groups and friends I have worked with to do something constructive that will help others!
THE PIECES OF THE PROJECT:
Part One: A photography installation featuring large prints (some three feet high) of the photos from our travels to Uganda. I traveled with the American Refugee Committee and a handful of talented Minnesotans. You can read about my well-known travel companions here.
In September I reached out to my fellow travelers and collected their beautiful photos. At the beginning of October the photos were installed in the main atrium at the busy Southdale Center in Edina!
Part Two: A art installation featuring colorful paper lanterns created by the entire 4th and 5th grade classes at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Edina. The colorful lanterns were installed alongside the photography in the main Southdale Center atrium just in time for the holiday season.
Part Three: Secure a sponsor to create a foundation. The Tradition Companies - the wonderful folks who also sponsor Art of Edina - agreed to donate base funds in honor of each student that created a paper lantern!! Over 150 headlamps were sent in the care of American Refugee Committee to the refugee settlement in Uganda!
Part Four: Personal efforts. Take the momentum that we created with Tradition, Our Lady of Grace and Southdale Mall and run with it. Create the Shine On Project as a personal project and use my connections, creativity and exposure to raise as much money as possible to send solar powered lights to the refugees I had met in Uganda.
Thank you!
Jill