ART KITS FOR KIDS
Every child deserves access to creative opportunities and art education regardless of the financial circumstances of their families. Time spent creating art has a tremendous impact on child development. Unfortunately, we recognize that many children in our community do not have the resources necessary to enjoy art at home. The Art Kits for Kids program helps change that by providing a variety of age-appropriate supplies like crayons, colored pencils, markers, modeling clay, coloring pages, construction paper, scissors, pencils, pencil sharpeners, glue, pens, notepads, and more to kids in need all across East Tennessee. To date, Dogwood Arts has compiled and distributed 13,800 Art Kits to students of all ages across East Tennessee. Now more than ever, it’s important that we invest in and inspire the next generation of artists.
*Photos provided by Jared Worsham Photography
WHAT'S IN THE KIT?
Kits include an assortment of age-appropriate materials such as: markers, pens, pencils, and crayons from Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, and Mr. Sketch.® Paper from Neenah paper, custom sketchbooks, colored pencils, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, watercolor sets, colorful paper, clay, pencils, pencil sharpeners, and pencil grips. Kits are customized based on the age and grade level of the recipient to provide hours of engagement and creative art-making.
NEWELL BRANDS
DONATION
Dogwood Arts is excited to announce a charitable contribution of art and educational supplies from Newell Brands in support of the Art Kits for Kids program. The company’s donation includes thousands of markers, pens, pencils, and crayons from its well-known Writing brands - Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, and Mr. Sketch®. Newell Brands has strong ties to East TN with a manufacturing and distribution hub in Maryville.
The gift will help expand the Art Kits for Kids program exponentially. With a supplemental donation of paper products and stickers from Neenah Paper, Dogwood Arts distributed 10,000 Art Kits to middle and high school students enrolled in art classes in Knox, Blount, and Anderson County in spring 2021.
Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid®, Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Marmot®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Mapa®, Spontex®, and Yankee Candle®. Newell Brands is committed to enhancing the lives of consumers around the world with planet-friendly, innovative and attractive products that create moments of joy and provide peace of mind.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
In 2020, our Art Kits were distributed through nonprofit organizations that already aid youth in East Tennessee including: Centro Hispano, Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, YWCA, Change Center, Girls Inc. of the Tennessee Valley, East Tennessee Freedom Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, and Knox County Head Start. Depending on the success of fundraising efforts, we hope to connect with additional partners to expand access to creative resources for even more children in our community. 3,500 Art Kits were distributed to kids across East TN through these nonprofit partnerships in 2020.
 BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS |  THE MUSE |  KNOX CO. HEAD START |
|---|---|---|
 EAST TN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL |  YWCA |  EAST TN FREEDOM SCHOOLS |
 BOYS & GIRLS CLUB |  THE CHANGE CENTER |  CENTRO HISPANO |
 GIRLS, INC. |
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Donate to the Art Kits For Kids program with a financial contribution or by supplying new, bulk art or school supplies such as pencils, note pads, pens, paper, stickers, markers, etc. Do you have promotional items that haven’t been distributed or are out of date? Stress balls, bubbles, stickers, other branded materials that kids would enjoy? We would love to include them as well.
Businesses interested in sponsoring this program, please reach out to Sherry Jenkins (Executive Director of Dogwood Arts) at (865) 637-4561 or by emailing sjenkins@dogwoodarts.com.
ART KIT SPONSORS
Thanks to these key sponsors who keep the art flowing in Knoxville!