The Morris County Arts Workshop (MCAW) Hosts Kids Create 4 A Cause to Support NJ Children's Hospital

MENDHAM, N.J. - March 26, 2014 - PRLog -- “Art has the power to heal,” and on many levels that has become the mantra for Christine Pennisi, director of Chester programs, and Jane Shatz, director of The Morris County Arts Workshop (MCAW), the non-profit organization which operates The Hive in the Chester Springs (ShopRite) Shopping Center in Chester and brings after-school art, music, language arts, and cultural programs to youth and seniors in Chester, Mendham, Mt. Olive and surrounding areas.

The duo not only foster the arts in the community, but also continually search for ways to give back. Pennisi, with the help of Chester resident and mom Ana Adame Kits, has created the Kids Create 4 A Cause Art Workshop for children ages 5 to 17. Participants will create a piece of artwork in honor of an area child battling an illness. The art will then be displayed on the MCAW website and sold at a suggested donation price of $25 per piece with all proceeds benefitting a select children’s hospital. Donations will be tax-deductible. Workshops will be offered every other month.

The first one will take place at The Hive in Chester on Sunday, March 30, 2014 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and is in honor of Anya, a Chester first-grader who loves arts and crafts and is recovering from Leukemia. This first workshop will support Tomorrows Children’s Fund (TCF), a privately funded, non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial, emotional and educational assistance to children in treatment for or who are survivors of pediatric cancer and blood disorders and their families. The TCF is located on the campus of Hackensack University Medical Center, where Anya received treatment.

“What better way to help children understand that they can make a difference than through art,” explains Pennisi. “We feel this community-based program will teach children that their time, talents and goodwill can have a positive impact on the lives of children, many of which they know, who are dealing with health issues. Through these workshops, we hope to be able to offer numerous pieces of wonderful art for purchase.”

For additional information and to register for the Kids Create 4 A Cause Art Workshop in March, please visit www.mcartsworkshop.com or contact Christine Pennisi at Christine@mcartsworkshop.com.

In addition to the Kids Create 4 A Cause Art Workshop, MCAW is also offering a number of special classes and workshops including the popular Spring Break Arts Camp from April 14 to 18, pottery classes and private parties at The Hive in Chester. Other happenings coming up at the Hive include “A Taste of Ireland” – and evening of Irish music, dance and storytelling on March 1^st and the return of rehearsals for the Chester Baroque Orchestra (CBO) on March 2^nd for its May concert. Monthly Hive happenings include Paint and Wine for adults the first Monday evening of the month; Open Mic Night one Friday night a month; Movie Night one Saturday each month; and various art displays in the Hive Gallery.

For complete schedules and availability, Hive Happenings, and to register, please visit www.mcartsworkshop.com. Registration for Summer Camp 2014 and MCAW’s spring semester for its programs in the schools which begin on March 24^th is now open online.

MCAW is continually seeking financial support to continue its operations at The Hive and programs such as the successful annual Haunted Halloween Workshop, Art in Public Spaces, Open Mic Night, Guest Art Displays and Lecture Series, Seniors Art Program, Writing Workshops, and its Home for the Arts building. Tax deductible donations can be made through www.mcartsworkshop.com. For additional information or to learn more on how you can help, please contact Director Jane Shatz at (908)531-8433.

About the Morris County Arts Workshop

Founded in 2003 by Jane Shatz, a Juilliard School of Music dance alumna and Chester resident, the Morris County Arts Workshop (MCAW) is a non-profit group created to nurture and promote the love for the arts in children of all ages.  The program is community based and offers a wide variety of classes from musical instrument lessons to voice to painting to yoga to language and martial arts.  Classes are currently held in Chester and Mendham public schools as well as The Hive in the Chester Springs Shopping Center on Route 206 in Chester, NJ.  There are two sessions per year which culminate with a special Showcase performance and art display in the fall and spring.  In addition, MCAW runs five weeks of summer camp for pre-kindergarten to age 15. For additional information and class schedules, please visit www.mcartsworkshop.com.