New Alternatives for Children, 01/18/12

We had a picture perfect time with the kids at New Alternatives for Children last night! We all drew together on heavy weight pieces of paper then decorated the borders to make funky frames. Thank you to volunteers, Jane Archer, Elana Amity, Joan Chiverton, Pedro Delgado, Jeanine Henderson, Elizabeth Winter and welcome to our very talented first-timer, John Jay Cabuay!!!

Chicago Children’s Memorial Hospital, 12/6/11

We were thrilled to welcome five National Cartoonists Society artists at this first-time event in Chicago!  These artists and the kids of Children’s Memorial did a fantastic job making cartoon holiday cards together, and in making even more cards for those kids who weren’t able to make it down to the rec room.  Thank you thank you thank you to Brian Kelly (Event Leader and NCS Chicago Chapter President), Brian Diskin, Charles Boyce, Ann Farrell, and Timothy Jackson!

Mount Sinai, 12/6/11

Elana Amity, Oded Naaman and Elizabeth Winter made some fantastic, festive decorations and holiday cards with the kids at Mount Sinai!  We each took a turn on KidsZone TV then got to draw in person with more kids in the studio.  One little girl drew loads of portraits of the puppet co-host, Panina, another created a green skinned fairy princess who was friends with all the birds, and another got stacks of Rugrats drawings.  Thanks, everybody, for a great night!

Bellevue Hospital, 11/29/11
 

We had a super fantastic time making flip books with the wonderful Bellevue Hospital kids! The kids dreamed up brilliant characters like tornado boy, vanishing girl, and the fish bird and we all had a ball learning about this fundamental animation technique together. Thank you, Elana Amity, Jane Archer, Jeanine Henderson, Franz Palomares and Elizabeth Winter for volunteering your fabulous artsiness.

Gilda’s Club, 10/28/11

We had a frightening amount of fun at Gilda’s Club’s Annual Halloween Party where we did face painting, caricatures and drawings with lots and lots and lots of kids!  Thanks, Gilda’s Club, for having us and thank you to our wonderful volunteers: Ray Alma, Amber Alvarez, Elana Amity, Jane Archer, Sergei Aniskov, Joan Chiverton, Oded Naaman, Samantha Olschan, Joyce Pedretti, Erin Shigake, Ed Steckley and Elizabeth Winter.

NYMH Sickle Cell Center, 10/25/11
 

IWF’s Franz Palomares drew with kids bravely undergoing treatment for sickle cell disease at New York Methodist today.  It’s very important that these children attend their scheduled checkups so we were happy to do our best to make the kids’ time at the hospital more fun!

Mount Sinai Hospital, 10/04/11

We partied it up with the kids of Mount Sinai, drawing party animals with an animal puppet named, Panina, on the KidsZone TV show and also in the rec room with some sweet young artists.  Thank you to volunteers, Ray Alma, Elana Amity (Event Leader), Joan Chiverton, Bil Donovan, Barbara Garrison, Joyce Pedretti and Elizabeth Winter.

Bellevue Hospital, 09/20/11

Bellevue Hospital, 08/16/11

Who knew that thaumatropes were the most fun thing to make ever??  Well now Jane Archer, Jeanine Henderson, Elizabeth Winter and the awesome Bellevue kids do.  These kids were incredibly polite and talented.  One boy said, “I’m so happy I got to be a part of this” and another boy stunned all the adults by being the only one who could figure out how to make one of our thaumatropes work by changing the orientation of the strings’holes.  Very impressive!  Thanks, everyone for a truly heartwarming and whirling good time!

Ronald McDonald House (Central Park) 08/12/11

Tonight we drew under a glorious summer sunset with the Ronald McDonald House kids in Central Park!  Thank you to RMDH volunteer, Steve Simon, for all your great coordination in getting the kids out there and thank you to the amazing artists who made this such a special night: Ray Alma, Roberta Fabiano, Oded Naaman, Samantha Olschan (first timer!), Joyce Pedretti, Tim Savage and Elizabeth Winter.

Mount Sinai Hospital, 07/12/11

Dare we say that we totally stole the show at Mount Sinai today!!!   We had a delightful time drawing our pictures for the kids over the hospital’s closed circuit TV station.  We were able to reach 80 kids in their rooms while they drew along with us and called in to the artists as they drew.  The best part was their adorable questions, like “so if Big Bird can’t fly, is he half penguin?”  Thank you Ray Alma, Joan Chiverton, Abby Merrill, Elizabeth Winter and Karrie Witkin for bringing so much star power to our first ever TV appearance  :)

New York Methodist Hospital, 06/15/11

Thank you Nina Frenkel, Franz Palomares, and Karrie Witkin for drawing cars, trucks, rockets and many other motorized machines with the wonderful Sparks of Life kids!

St. Mary’s Hospital, 06/04/11

 Thank you so much to Ray Alma, Howard Beckerman, Joyce Pedretti, Adrian Sinnott, Tim Savage, Ed Steckley and Elizabeth Winter for a great drawing day and much fun at Jackson Hole Diner afterward.

Mount Sinai Hospital, 05/17/11

We had a fantastic time at our first event with the very talented kids of Mount Sinai!  They were all eager to learn how to draw and we were very impressed by how much they progressed in just an hour and a half.  Keep it up, kids!  Thanks to artists, Sal Amendola, Pedro Delgado, Oded Naaman and Elizabeth Winter.  We look forward to many more good times ahead here.  (Photos of the kids aren’t cleared yet, we hope to post some next time.)

IWF Pen Pals Program Begins!  05/09/11

We are very happy to announce the start of the IWF Pencil Pals Program, where we connect artists with children who are not physically able to come to our events.  We begin with a 12 year-old girl named, Sydney Becker, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in late 2010.  Sydney is now dealing with chemotherapy and all the challenges it brings with incredible strength and grace, starting a daily blog and working with her family to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

When Sydney told us her favorite character was SpongeBob SquarePants, our great friend and Futurama artist, Joseph Scott, got right on the case, connecting us with the very talented SpongeBob artist, Monica Tomova.  Monica made two drawings for Sydney and wrote her a letter too.  Sydney says the drawings “made my day” and that she “can’t wait to hang them up!”  Thank you Joseph and Monica for giving this program such an incredible start and and thank you to Sydney whose bravery and positive attitude is an inspiration.

March of Dimes “March for Babies” 05/01/11

We had a blast face painting and caricature drawing at the March of Dimes “March for Babies” finish line.  This event supports programs and research to fight infant illness and promote healthy pregnancies.  Thank you Ray Alma, Joyce Pedretti, Karrie Witkin, and Elizabeth Winter for volunteering.

Ronald McDonald House Hope Awards, 04/28/11

Jane Archer and Elizabeth Winter got to meet many wonderful people making a difference at the Ronald McDonald House Hope Awards while Franz Palomares was across town celebrating with the great supporters of NY Methodist Hospital.  Thank you for thanking your volunteers, RMDH and NYMH!  

New York Methodist Hospital, 04/27/11

Thank you to Franz Palomares, and Elizabeth Winter and a big giant welcome to first timer, Dan Pinto!  The kids were a little shy this time but we drew stacks of cosmically cool alien creatures that we hope they all will enjoy.

Bellevue Hospital, 04/19/11

Thank you to Sergey Aniskov, Ed Steckley, Elizabeth Winter, Ray Alma, Jane Archer, Erin Shigaki, and Tim Savage for a marvelous night of comic book character drawing. Midtown Comics graciously donated the comics that the kids drew from and got to keep (thanks, Thor!).

New York Methodist Hospital, 03/14/11

‎Rami Efal and Franz Palomares had an action packed time with the kids and parents at New York Methodist Hospital. We made lunch-bag puppets, threw them a dance party and played hide and seek!  Even the nurses wanted in!

New York Methodist Hospital, 02/23/11

We had another wonderful, imaginative day with the kids at New York Methodist Hospital!  Super Cliff saved the world in two spectacular galactic adventures and The Polka Dot Fish set new trends in ocean fashion.  Thank you very much to Rami Efal, Franz Palomares, and Erin Shigaki for volunteering.

Children’s Hospital of Minnesota, 02/19/11

This was a stellar day of doggies, cats, elephants, fire breathing dragons, and other pets the kids said they’d love to have.  We were thrilled to welcome first time Ink Wellers, Anthony Brandenburg, Nina Crittenden and Tom Schroeder along with our longtime volunteers, Valerie Reupert and Elizabeth Winter.

Ronald McDonald House, 02/08/11

The Ink Well was honored to partner with The Society of Illustrators on this wonderful night of Valentine’s Day card making with the kids at the Ronald McDonald House.  Thank you so much to Ray Alma, Elana Amity, Jane Archer, Sergey Aniskov, Joan Chiverton, Rami Efal, Barbara Garrison, Jeanine Henderson, Abby Merrill, Anelle Miller, Oded Naaman, Franz Palomares, Joyce Pedretti and Elizabeth Winter who made this one full house of love and fun!

New York Methodist Hospital, 01/18/11

Sergei Aniskov, Rami Efal, and Franz Palomares had a great time at New York Methodist Hospital with Romeo and Savannah drawing what we would like to do more in 2011: basketball, playing with dogs, and … m-o-r-e Spongebob?!

Children’s Hospital of MN, 01/15/11

Elizabeth Winter and Valerie Reupert got a whirlwind tour of Children’s Hospital during The Ink Well’s first ever event in Minnesota!  We met some incredible kids like Eli, Jacob, Joey and Katelyn and together we drew a Mermaid Man vs Barnacle Boy hockey game, lots of dogs and kitty cats, superheroes and some marine mammals too.  Thanks, everyone for a great day, we’re very happy to be up and running in Minnesota and are looking forward to many more good times together!

Sunrise Day Camp, 12/19/10

We had the best day ever with the brilliant Sunrise Day Camp kids! It was a pajama party blow out where we all decorated pillow cases, such as Joe Vissichelli‘s inspired Justin Bieber portrait for Katie, who said she couldn’t wait to wake up to Justin’s face every morning; Adrian Sinnott‘s Cat in the Hat that was as tall as the kids; Joyce Pedretti‘s Sponge Bob factory and Botticelli-like Little Mermaid, Marty Macaluso‘s portrait parade; Ray Alma‘s Iron Man and Bat Man that made one boy say, “this is the bestest day ever!”, Tim Savage‘s space ship pilot portrait of Hector, Elizabeth Winter’s doggies and ducks and flowers for Heebin, and Amber Alvarez‘s portrait of a girl who was so excited to put it up in her locker, “once I get a locker,” she said.

We kept the party going at a nearby diner before we had to go our separate ways.  It was kinda hard to say goodbye but we’ve got loads of great events on the way for 2011.  Thank you for sharing your creativity, hope and strength with these amazing children throughout all the years, dear volunteers, and a very happy new year to you!!

New York Methodist Hospital, 12/07/10

Rami Efal and Erin Shigaki warmed up this December day by drawing with the wonderful kids at NYMH!

New York Methodist Hospital, 11/09/10

Rami Efal and Erin Shigaki made some fantastic Thanksgiving crafts with The Sparks of Life kids!

Gilda’s Club- SoHo, 10/29/10

We had a frightfully good time painting faces and drawing caricatures at Gilda’s Club’s Halloween party!  Thank you to Ray Alma, Amber Alvarez, Jane Archer, Justin Bilicki, Rami Efal, Oded Naaman, Erin Shigaki, and Elizabeth Winter who also got to catch up at one of our favorite haunts, Grey Dog, afterwards.  Happy Halloween, everyone!!

New York Methodist Hospital, 10/12/10

Rami Efal and Oded Naaman got a jump on Halloween with the kids at New York Methodist.  Check out their spooky sketches and petrifying pumpkins!  Thanks, everyone!

St. Mary’s Hospital, 10/06/10

A huge thank you goes out to Jane Archer, Erin Shigaki, Roberta Fabiano (first timer!) and to Ray Alma, who led the group at St. Mary’s groundbreaking celebration. We were very happy to show our support for this special place and their long-awaited modernized facilities.  These kids definitely deserve their great new digs!

New York Methodist Hospital, 09/28/10

Rami Efal and Oded Naaman crafted some great Autumn collages and drawings with Naisha, who loved her Fall landscapes and Dimitry, who wowed everyone with his superlative Disney and Scooby Doo sketches!

Bellevue Hospital, 08/24/10

Ray Alma, Jane Archer, Oded Naaman, Nathan Schreiber, Karrie Witkin and the Bellevue kids created their very own animated flip books tonight!  Thanks, volunteers and to the great kids and staff who always welcome us with their endless warmth and creativity.

New York Methodist Hospital, 08/09/10

Thank you Rami Efal, Henry Hilaire, Franz Palomares and Erin Shigaki (first timer!) for joining the kids at New York Methodist today!  Everyone drew the kids’favorite characters playing sports and being sporty in general.  Rami and Erin drew bedside with two little guys, one of whom was especially glad to receive his creative gifts as it was his birthday.  Happy birthday, Christian!

The Ronald McDonald House, 07/13/10

What a pretty picture the RMDH kids and Ink Well volunteers made as they drew miniature scenes inside picture frames together (as well as a Hulk drawing or two)! Thank you very much to Ray Alma, Jane Archer, Leyah Jensen, Yunmee Kyong, Marty Macaluso, Eun-Ha Paek, Tim Savage, Ed Steckley and Karrie Witkin who all made this night a great one.

Bellevue Hospital, 06/29/10

It couldn’t have been a finer night with the wonderful kids of Bellevue and the Ink Well gang.  We got our 4th of July game on, drawing Abraham Lincoln hanging out with Obama, the Statue of Liberty showered in fireworks, and of course many many superheroes.  An enormous thanks to Ray Alma, Jeremy Arambulo, Jane Archer, Howard Beckerman, Bil Donovan, Franz Palomares, Jason Patterson (first timer!), Nathan Schreiber, Ed Steckley, and Elizabeth Winter who all joined the fun and kept it going at Totonno’s Pizza later that night.

NY Methodist Hospital, 06/08/10

Thank you Rami Efal and Ed Steckley for sharing smiles with the Sparks of Life kids!

Bellevue Hospital, 05/26/10

Jane Archer, Franz Palomares, Karrie Witkin, and Ray Alma had a rooftop party with 17 kids today!  They drew fantasy summer rides like convertible Corvettes and helicopters carrying princesses, all under the beautiful setting summer sun. Thanks, everyone!!

New York Methodist Hospital, April 27, 2010

The Earth Day festivities continued this week as the Sparks of Life kids invented “Guardians of the Earth” characters with Rami Efal and new member, Jeremy Arambulo.  Way to go guys!

Bellevue Hospital, April 21, 2010

We celebrated Earth Day with the wonderful kids of Bellevue today by decorating blank puzzles with the kids’favorite places on the planet, which were forests, flower gardens, Six Flags, and movie theaters!  Thank you very much to Ray Alma, Sergey Aniskov, Jane Archer, Nola Denett, Joyce Pedretti and Karrie Witkin who all made this Earth Day a very special one at Bellevue.