KidsPeace is a private charity organization that helps children in foster care. It was started in 1882, and has grown across the U.S. as an organization. The mission of KidsPeace is, “to give hope, help and healing to children, adults and those who love them.”
Locally, KidsPeace holds fundraisers throughout the year to help the kids of Cumberland County and the surrounding areas, but in 2020, COVID-19 restrictions put their usual fundraising events on hold. The Art Gallery of Hope is a recent addition to the KidsPeace fundraiser calendar.
“The Art Gallery of Hope came into play last year. We used to have a lot of dress up fancy galas for KidsPeace but then Covid hit. We were looking for a reason to get dressed up again,” said Dominique Womack, art chair and founder of the KidsPeace Art Gallery of Hope. “We came up with this theme of doing an art gallery and giving people a chance to be snooty while still raising money for the kids and picking up some of the slack due to Covid.”
Last year’s event was a huge success, with $10,000 raised for the local charity. All proceeds of the event went to North Carolina kids in foster care. Womack decided to hold this year’s event in May, during Foster Care Awareness Month.
Canvases, prints and photography will be on display from local artists. Kids from the KidsPeace organization as well as students of Capital Encore Academy have donated artwork for the event. Adrian Warwick, a tattoo artist with New Addiction, has donated a print of one of his original works: a black and white portrait of a child standing in front of a tank with the Ukraine flag in color, in the background.
Carlos Tolentino will also be donating a piece of original artwork. Tolentino creates black and white images with bleach. His piece was the highest selling at last year’s auction.
“These two guys have been heavy hitters when it comes to art here in the city,” said Womack. “They are going to donate their work and their time to help us raise awareness for foster care.”
General admission for the event is $23 and tickets can be found at www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-kidspeace-art-gallery-of-hope-tickets-291739459577. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m.
“Cumberland County has the most kids awaiting foster care,” said Womack. “I’m excited to get that final number and know those kids are getting after school programs, clothing, their foster parents are getting help.”
“We are giving them a home to lay their head in instead of having them bounce from house to house with their stuff in trashbags. That’s what hurts me the most, they carry their stuff around in trash bags. I just want to raise as much money as I can to help out these kids in our program,” she added.
The Church at Paddy's is located at 2606 Raeford Road. To donate to KidsPeace, visit www.kidspeace.org.