Art and Soul April 11, 2008

The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) largest fundraising event, Art & Soul, will be held on Friday, April 11th, at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland. The event begins at 7:00 pm with prominent community leaders and philanthropic partners being recognized and given NCCF's Spirit Award for Humanitarian Achievement for their advocacy and exemplary support of vulnerable children, youth, and families in the Washington Metropolitan region.

At 7:00 pm, guests will begin bidding via silent auction on over 100 pieces of art selected by a jury of professional artists and curators. Patrons will also enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres, designer cocktails and other beverages, as they make their silent bids on restaurant packages, designer jewelry, and more, all generously donated by local merchants.

Several pieces produced by talented young artists residing in NCCF's Greentree Shelter (GTS) and Greentree Adolescent Program (GAP) will make for heated bidding during the live auction segment. According to Alex, a youth from GAP, "Making things beautiful and creating art projects helps me believe that I can do things I never thought I could do. . . It encourages me to look at things in a different way. . . Ms. Mary may be coming to teach us art, but when she leaves, we have learned so much more." Mary Freedman and Randy Rosenblum volunteer every Wednesday at NCCF® to teach art class to at-risk youth - a commitment now in its 6th year.

The community is invited to join us on Friday, April 11th, at The Music Center at Strathmore for an evening of great food and fun in support of vulnerable children, and families right here in our community. The evening's entertainment will feature award winning, jazz vocalist Julia Nixon.

For more details, contact Heather Buckman, Director of Community and Corporate Relations at (301) 365-4480, ext. 266 or hbuckman@nccf-cares.org.

Tickets for the event are $100 per person.

The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF®) is a private, nonprofit agency with nearly a centuries commitment to serving families in the national capital area. NCCF’s residential programs serve homeless families, victims of domestic violence, and vulnerable adolescents. Other programs include traditional and treatment foster care, social services for family reunification, parenting education, independent living, and stabilizing families in the community.

Official Website: http://www.nccf-cares.org