Buildings, parks and roadways are often named after a person who had memorable influence and impact within a community. When my Dad retired I wanted to do more than just buy some gift - I wanted to establish a legacy to commemorate his impact on the lives of several generations of families within our community. I found a way to Pay It Forward for my high school alma mater and honor my Dad simultaneously.
A Gift That Keeps Giving
My wife Susan and I revealed a retirement gift to my Dad after 35 years of teaching elementary art in the Fulton (New York) School District - an annual scholarship awarded to a high school student pursuing a career in the fine arts. We established a 501(c)(3) charity so that all donations are tax deductible.
We derive no income or other financial benefit from operating the Foundation. Apart from a small amount of necessary registration, banking and other expenses, all the donations end up in the hands of worthy students who wish to pursue higher education in the fine arts.
The painting above is one of my Dad's and you can see more of his portfolio by visiting www.mitchelsonartscholarship.org and while there you can see some of the artwork created by winners of the scholarship.
Helping Students Pursue Their Dream
To date we have awarded over $10,000 to worthy students, some of whom are now living their dream either as an art teacher themselves, like Matthew Hill (pictured below), or in other artistic pursuits (one of our winners wants to work on Disney animation).
#GivingTuesday is a movement established to remind people to support charities that are meaningful to them this holiday season and comes on the heels of the spending binges such as #BlackFriday and #SmallBusiness Saturday and #CyberMonday.
If helping high school art students pursue the development of their talents is meaningful to you, then why not include the Mitchelson Scholarship Foundation in your giving plans each year?
Donate Just By Shopping Online!
Even if you choose not to make a direct donation, you can still contribute. Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of your purchase to the Larry Mitchelson Scholarship Foundation if you just use smile.amazon.com and select this charity. No extra work or hassle on your part. Just do your normal shopping and you'll be giving at the same time. 
Amazon pricing and everything else is exactly the same as amazon.com.
As many of you are busy shopping this month for holiday items and year round for other items, please remember your opportunity to help high school art students earn scholarship funds for college.
Learn more at www.mitchelsonartscholarship.org
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