After just one year as an Abrakadoodle franchise owner, Patricia Schon embraced the opportunity to seek out a worthy program in her community to provide free art programming in support of Abrakadoodle’s 2017 national Arts for All campaign, and she found their mission very compelling. The Carying Place provides short-term housing, support and training to help homeless, working families attain independence. Pat Schon made plans for conducting art classes on March 23^rd for 5-11-year old’s and on March 30^th for 12-18 years old youth. Pat said that she coordinated with Casey Smith, The Carying Place Children’s Program Coordinator, and they decided upon an Abrakadoodle lesson that really helped children express themselves. “I introduced the children to a lesson that allowed them to use art and music to express how they were feeling,” commented Pat Schon.

Following two successful art programs provided at no charge, Ms. Schon exclaimed, “I found working with the kids in The Carying Place program to be absolutely wonderful!” She added, “They were engaged, enthusiastic and very polite. They did a great job sharing materials, as well as compliments around the room. They asked good questions, laughed at my jokes and chatted a bit about what they enjoyed in music and art.” Ms. Schon said she talked with program participants about the artist Vormstein, a German contemporary artist, and showed them where Germany is located on the world map. Pat said they also talked about how shapes and colors can communicate moods and feelings, and she played jazz from Spyro Gyra and Joe Sample while they worked. When Pat asked the class if anyone knew what type of music they were listening to, one young man named Mikey quickly raised his hand and said, “happy music!” Pat commented, “That made my night. I was also so pleased to see the surprise on the kids’ faces when they found out that their new piece was going to be framed and that they were going to take them home that night.”

“I couldn’t help smiling at how proud they were when I flipped their framed art around and held it out to them,” Pat remarked. “And I was so happy at how enthusiastically they shared their shapes and colors within the group. I have to say that it was an inspiring way to spend a few hours working with these creative, inventive and very impressive kids, and I want to express my gratitude to The Carying Place for enabling me to work with these kids.”