Beaver Staff
Looking to keep the momentum of their successful Gibbard Furniture Factory brick selling campaign, Lisa Ray Koenig is turning her new painting hobby into a fundraiser.
Just like the brick campaign-which saw the Gibbard District selling bricks recovered from the demolition of the historic furniture factory-money raised from Koenig’s art sales will go towards the purchase of IV Fluid Pumps for the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital Foundation.
However as the availability of bricks dwindled, Koenig, executive director of the Gibbard District sales centre, had to find other options to keep this fundraising momentum going. Koenig reached out to local artist Gary Barnett about hosting Paint Pouring classes at the Gibbard District sales centre with a portion of the registration fee going to the pump fundraising efforts.
With this frenzy of art it was easy for Koenig to immerse herself in painting, so much that her husband commented that there is not enough wall space for her paintings.
“Why not pay it forward and sell my paintings with 100 per cent of the money going to benefit the IV Fluid Pumps initiative?” said Koenig.
She then reached out to Joanne McCormick, owner of Touch of Wellness AVEDA Spa, to see if she would be interested in supporting her initiative by showing her paintings at the spa. Without hesitation, McCormick agreed.
“I am continually moved by the way our community supports and gives back locally,” said McCormick. “Working with Lisa from The Gibbard District on the campaign to raise money for the IV pump fundraiser, has been incredible. We are excited to create a wall at Touch of Wellness Spa to display Lisa’s paintings. An incredible donation by a lady with a huge heart”.
Koenig’s creations are now on display at the Gibbard District sales centre, 88 Dundas Street East and at Touch of Wellness Spa. For a minimum donation of $55 for a small painting, $75 for a large painting, 100 per cent donations will benefit the LACGH Foundation IV Fluid Pumps initiative.