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Publicolor celebrated
their Stir,
Splatter + Roll Gala May
22 at the Metropolitan Pavilion raising nearly 1.3
million dollars.
Ruth
Lande Shuman started
Publicolor in 1996 with a mission to improve the lives of
neglected NYC public school students, teachers, and communities.
Shocked by low-income students’ failing test scores, high
drop-out rates, and dreary often prison-like facilities, the
deteriorated environment of most schools in low-income
neighborhoods, and how these were negatively affecting the
performance of teachers and students alike, she started the
Paint Club program. Organizing struggling students to paint
their schools’ interiors so they’d be warm, welcoming and
visually stimulating. And she didn’t stop there! A multi-day
multi-year continuum of project-based learning programs ensured,
thereby empowering hundred of their students, to be successful
in school, work, and life. Now, 21 years later, Publicolor has
painted 227 middle and high schools, 214 community sites and
playgrounds, awarded 256 students multi-year college
scholarships (132 scholarships this year alone), and worked with
23,000 volunteers. And been recognized twice at the White House
with national awards.
This
year Publicolor honored longtime board member and now board
chair emeritus Deven Parekh and
his wife, Monika, for
their invaluable leadership and their steadfast generosity, and Barbara
+ Donald Tober in recognition of all their work to advance
design and education in NYC. A posthumous award was given to
the distinguished design consultant and founding board member of
Publicolor Jeffrey J. Osborne.
A special Catalysts for Change Award was presented to the
architects Diller Scofidio
and Renfro for their incredible work changing the landscape
of NYC with Elizabeth Diller accepting
the award.
The
lively evening began with painting stations, colorful cocktails,
and a silent auction that included artworks from Christo and Mark
di Suvero. This year's featured speaker was NYC School
Chancellor Carmen Fariña who
praised Publicolor’s programs and determination to make college
an attainable goal for all students.
Aaron Green,
Mill Account Manager, Antron
Fiber; Scott
Patton, Director
Business Development, Antron
Fiber; Suzanne
Tick, Suzanne Tick Inc.; Len
Ferro, President, Tandus
Centiva; Diane
Martel, VP
Environmental Planning and Strategy, Tarkett
North America presented
a check of $157,799.85 to Ruth
Lande Shuman, for the non-profit's Summer
Design Studio. The
three companies, Antron
Fiber, Suzanne Tick Inc., and Tandus Centiva, annually
donate proceeds from education flooring sales to Publicolor's
Summer Design Studio program.
The
evening closed with a rousing rendition of Marvin Gaye's Ain't
No Mountain High Enough by dozens of Publicolor students
accompanied by JaLessa
Beavers, which brought the crowd to their feet. |