Looking Back on 2010 with my Left Eye on 2011

As 2011 commences, I would like to take a moment to wish you and your family a healthy and wonderful new year, as well as share my thoughts on what has been a thrilling year for Lyrical Gallery. 

Thrilling because just five months ago we learned that the location at 40 Main Street was becoming available; four months ago we were working feverishly to remodel the space from a real estate office back to its previous art gallery incarnation; and three months ago in October we flung open our doors! 

Since then we have brought on a wonderful employee in Carolyn Toronto, added David Hallman’s fabulous turned mesquite bowls to the mix, and sold way more art than we thought possible. Very exciting stuff and we thank you all so much for your support!

Lyrical Gallery and The Women & Children's Hope Foundation

Charitable Giving Summary:

2010 was another busy year for The Women and Children’s Hope Foundation, a registered 501c3 self funded operating foundation set up by Danielle and Sloane Bouchever in 2006. Lyrical Gallery proudly donates 25% of all gallery profits to WCHF.

Danielle traveled to Haiti twice in 2010 with a team of doctors, nurses and dentists. Her first visit was just three weeks after the catastrophic earthquake in January. Danielle and Bisbee local Bonita Schweighart orchestrated a very successful “supply raiser” in Bisbee in conjunction with the Bisbee Fire Department, Chiricahua Community Health Center, and Copper Queen Hospital where the community generously donated medical supplies such as bandages, crutches, baby formula and vitamins. In addition, Danielle set up a special “Haiti Relief Fund” and for the first time WCHF accepted outside monetary donations. Sloane enlisted the support of dear friends Jeannie Courtney, CEO of Spring Ridge Academy (www.springridgeacademy.com) and Steve Goodrich, CEO of PowerPay (www.powerpay.biz) who launched very successful fundraising campaigns for funds to be used 100% for Haiti assistance.

                           

On February 6^th Danielle and fellow Bisbee registered nurse Cynthia Jacobson flew to the Dominican Republic loaded down with over half a ton of supplies, and rendezvoused with rest of the team. The 20 doctors, nurses and dentists then drove 12 hours on earthquake ravaged roads into Haiti. The team worked for a week in Léogâne, the epicenter of the earthquake just a few miles from Port au Prince, providing medical assistance to several thousand Haitians.

                       

In June, Danielle packed her bags and traveled to Haiti with the team again, where she stayed in a Unicef tent at an orphanage and worked in Léogâne in the emergency room set up by the University of Notre Dame treating locals in need. True to form, she is already busy planning WCHF’s next trip to Haiti in March of 2011.

In addition, The Women and Children’s Hope Foundation supported many programs such as the Summer Program of the Bisbee Boys and Girls Club, college scholarships to Bisbee and Douglas High School seniors, and Nursing scholarships for single mothers enrolled at Cochise College. WCHF also provided funding for the Fort Rouge Child Care Center in Winnipeg Canada, Mali Midwives in Mali West Africa, Rebuild it Together in Bisbee, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Grandpa Gardner Charity, Humanitarian Border Solutions, the Rosa Vera Fund, and Swim International. Last but not least, WCHF continues our ongoing sponsorship of dozens of orphaned children living in SOS Children’s Villages in India, Morocco, South Africa, Cambodia, Haiti, Nigeria, Indonesia, Thailand, Costa Rica and Argentina.

All in all it was a stupendous year for The Women and Children’s Hope Foundation and we look forward to an equally rewarding 2011. Danielle and I sincerely thank all of you who participated in these initiatives!