Cover inspirational artwork by Grace, age 4

Minneapolis volunteer and support organization will hold ‘Windows Into Children’ fund-raiser

BY FORRESTER PACK/Murphy News Service

The message remains the same to the young patients who will benefit from the sixth annual Windows into Children’s event: “Draw what makes you happy,” event committee member Carol Evans said.

“My favorite part of these events is seeing what the kids draw in response to that request and then seeing the beautiful pieces of art the artists create using the children’s drawing as their inspiration” she added.

Evans is one of nine organizers on the Windows Committee for the Children’s Association-Minneapolis, a group dedicated to benefiting Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. In existence since 1958, the Children’s Association-Minneapolis is a volunteer fundraising and service organization designed to support Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

“The Association is comprised of women from all over the Minneapolis area,” Evans said. “The goal of the fundraiser is to support the hospital’s Star Studio, which exists as an entertainment and interactive platform for young hospital patients.

“There’s been a studio at the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital for many years, and within the last year, St. Paul has built one on their campus. The studio programming is geared toward entertaining the children in the hospital, and the cool thing is the broadcast is interactive,” Evans said. “Children can call into the studio to answer game questions like ‘Bingo’ or ‘Name That Tune,’ right from their hospital bed […] oftentimes, these children are in really stressful situations, so this is a positive form of entertainment. The parents really enjoy the programming as well.”

The Event

Windows into Children’s Nov. 13 event will take place at the Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis Park. Drawings created by patients in Children’s Hospitals “inspires artists to create original pieces of art in a variety of mediums,” the event release explains. The original art is placed into a silent auction to help raise money in support of the Star Studio.

 A new segment in this year’s fundraiser by the Children’s Association will feature a live auction that will offer “the opportunity to bid on a commissioned painting of a landscape or dwelling by artist Charlotte Schuld, a chance to appear with ‘The Dude’ in a live broadcast at the Star Studio and a glass art class for six with artist Trish Gardiner,” an event release said.

“This will be my sixth year of involvement,” Gardiner said. “I’ve been raising money for children and cancer on and off for probably 15 years, and after checking into the organization, I realized it was something I wanted to do.” Gardiner is a glass artist from Minnetonka. Yet last year was the first time she attended the fundraiser, an event that she said was profound for her.

“I was just overcome with gratitude by seeing and hearing what they do, and grateful to be a part of their efforts,” Gardiner said. “After seeing the work that is being done and how engaged the children are with it … I know what it is like to have a sick child, and it was important for me to be a part of the Children’s Association’s efforts,” she said.

Eriq Nelson, known as “The Dude” for his character in the Star Studio, arrived at Children’s Hospital eight years ago to help relaunch the hospital’s closed-circuit live programming for young patients seeking entertainment. As an in-house television channel, volunteers and workers offer their own original programming. The main studio is located in the lobby of Children’s Hospital’s Minneapolis campus, and children can visit at any time.

“I wanted to create a character that could stay the same age for a long time,” Nelson explained. “I took experiences from my childhood, like watching children’s television hosts and funny characters; anything from “Wayne’s World” to “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood,” themes from the 1980s and 1990s all mashed into one character.

That’s how “The Dude” was born. The Dude will often interview doctors within Children’s Hospital, visit interesting places such as a bakery or bowling alley. “Once, The Dude interviewed Gov. Mark Dayton,” Nelson laughed, adding that the efforts of the Children’s Association-Minneapolis to keep the Star Studio program strong is a benefit for the patients and volunteers involved. Nelson explained how money raised has gone to buy footballs for the patients, hire performers to entertain patients and buy  equipment that Star Studio volunteers need to maintain operations.

“We certainly appreciate the association for its help. This not only helps financially, but also raises awareness around the [metro area],” Nelson said. “It is just a fun night for everyone.”

Another volunteer, Larry Clausnitzer, is a cabinet-maker by day, but the Wayzata resident has crafted bowls to donate to Window’s into Children’s since its inception.

“Who doesn’t want to give to children?” Clausnitzer asked. “My daughter spent time in Children’s Hospital, and they were so kind to her. Knowing this, and what they did to help her, I am more than willing to give. Our experience with Children’s Hospital was and still is absolutely wonderful.”

Reporter Forrester Pack is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota

Visit The Association’s website at www.childrens-association-mpls.org to view the art and to register for the Windows into Children’s event. If you want to donate to the Star Studio of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota go to https://giving.childrensmn.org/donate/starstudio.