We are so excited to introduce a fun and creative fundraising effort where individuals or teams can turn an unfinished oak chair or rocker into works of art!
Here is your chance to release that inner Rembrandt or Mary
Engelbreit, get out your favorite colors of paint and brushes, gather your friends and get started!
All proceeds will benefit the National Inclusion Project, and we have included all the details below on how to sponsor a chair and become part of the fun “Painted Bottoms” project.
We would love for this to become an annual event so let’s get many, many chairs out across the country! Have fun and use this opportunity to spread awareness! Here’s to a “rocking” success!
JUDGING
We have chosen four categories (see below) for you to choose from to paint your chair. It will then be judged by a team from the Project. Judging will be done approximately four weeks before the Champions Gala (Date TBD) from three 5×7 colored photographs (side/front/back) that you will send to us. Twelve chairs will be chosen for the final round of judging, and we will notify you to ship your chair to the Project’s office address. The best chair from each category plus an overall Champion will come to the Champions Gala. The best chairs from each category will be available in the Gala Silent Auction. The overall Champion chair will be signed by Clay Aiken and then auctioned LIVE at the Gala!
The seven chairs chosen for the final round of judging but not included in the Gala will not be returned to the sponsors. The Project will determine the best use for the chair.
If your chair is not chosen to come to the Gala, we hope that you will auction off your chair locally to raise additional funds for the National Inclusion Project!
DEADLINES
August 27: Place your order for a chair
September 10: Photos submitted
September 28: 12 finalist chairs submitted
October 6: Chairs will be judged
CATEGORIES
- Fan
- Inclusion Awareness
- Regional/State
- Creative/Open
PRIZE
The sponsors of the winning chair, if present at the Gala, will have their picture taken with Clay and the winning chair and will receive autographed copies of your photo.
If the winning sponsors are NOT present at the Gala you will receive autographed copies of photo of Clay with your winning chair.
TEACHABLE MOMENTS
Sponsors, this will be a wonderful opportunity to use your chair to spread the word of the work of the National Inclusion Project. Commission your local art classes, Girl Scout troop, garden club, etc. to paint your chair. This will allow you to talk about the Project and its work, thus spreading the word!
Aron Hall will have a PowerPoint presentation available for you to read and use for this purpose.
If you have chosen to use your chair in this way, please include a few paragraphs of your experience spreading the word of the Project’s work when you send us your 5×7 photographs for judging.
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SPONSORING A CHAIR
To sponsor an Oak Chair:
- Go to the National Inclusion Project’s Donation Page
- Enter your billing information
- Enter $125 in the “Other” Amount box
- Enter “Painted Bottoms CHAIR” in the Special Events box
- Hit Submit
*If paying by check, make it out to National Inclusion Project for $125 and put “Painted Bottoms CHAIR” in the memo line.
SPONSORING A ROCKER
To sponsor an Oak Rocker:
- Go to the National Inclusion Project’s Donation Page
- Enter your billing information
- Enter $135 in the “Other” Amount box
- Enter “Painted Bottoms ROCKER” in the Special Events box
- Hit Submit
*If paying by check, make it out to National Inclusion Project for $135 and put “Painted Bottoms ROCKER” in the memo line.
(Note: Your cost includes $29 for a chair or $41 for a rocker plus $25 for shipping. The donation for the National Inclusion Project is $71 per chair and $69 per rocker.)
NOTE: Rocker blades will come detached with instructions on how to mount.
If your chair is not chosen to come to the Project and you choose to donate your chair, a brass plaque with the inscription below is available for $15 to mount on the back of your chair.
Donated on behalf of the National Inclusion Project
www.inclusionproject.org
The chairs used for our project are manufactured by the Troutman Chair Co. in Troutman, NC.
PAINTING SUGGESTIONS
Chair may need light sanding, then a coat of latex primer. After painting is complete, coat your chair with several coats of polyurethane to protect your work of art. You may also use stain to create your design.
CONTACT PERSON/QUESTIONS
Kitty Brandon
E-mail: upcopper2@aol.com
Phone 919-424-6579 or cell 919-606-6914