PeaceLove Gala Set for May 1st - Launch of Mental Health Month

April 18, 2012 - PRLog -- PeaceLove Foundation Gala Set for May 1st - Recognizing May as Mental Health Month


"Get Your PeaceLove On 2", the annual gala to benefit PeaceLove Foundation, will be held on Tuesday, May 1st, from 6-11pm at The Met, Hope Artiste Village, Main Street, Pawtucket.  

The event will honor Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien, for his support for the arts and mental health, and for PeaceLove Studios, in Pawtucket.  

"This event marks the beginning of Mental Health Month in America, and the theme is 'Get Connected' which is perfect for the work we do at PeaceLove.  The gala is a time for all people to come together in acceptance and understanding.  One in four people are dealing with some sort of mental illness.  What we are doing is creating the first positive symbol for mental illness - which we believe is PeaceLove - and help people truly come together and stay connected to gain support and understanding from each other.  We're changing the face of mental illness," said Jeffrey Sparr, artist and founder of PeaceLove Studios/PeaceLove Foundation.

A series of live music performances will take place with Jose Docen, Dave & Sam Yules, and Music Express RI.  Food will be served, donated by Catering/Gourmet, Café Luna, Bacaro, and Avenue N.  Commemorative PeaceLoveTinis will be available in handpainted martini glasses.  A free photobooth activity will be available.  A silent auction of art, services, and opportunities will be held, and attendees will be able to win original works of art for the raffle.

Barbara Morse Silva of NBC10 is Celebrity Host.  Media Sponsors are NBC10, GoLocalProv, and the RI Small Business Journal.  In addition to Sparr and Matthew Kaplan, co-founders, Amy Kinney, Program Director, are on the planning committee as well as Cheryl Cohen, Ron Dalgliesh, Carol Felingiere, Sunny Moriello Flatts, C.J. Lovett, Miriam Plitt, Todd Patkin, Maureen Ryan, Sandra Shuster, Jennifer Sparr, Nancy Thomas, and Pat Zachs.  Tapestry Communications is coordinating the event .

PeaceLove provides Paint 4 PeaceTM programs, Community Art Programs and Corporate Workshops.  In addition, branded items are sold, including t-shirts, greeting cards, watches and more.  

Founded in 2009 by Jeffrey Sparr and Matt Kaplan, PeaceLove was established to do three simple things to make the world a better place; build the first positive symbol for mental illness, create expressive arts programming to help people find peace of mind, and build inclusive spaces where communities could come together to experience story-telling, expressive arts, and cool products that inspire a positive lifestyle.  Today, PeaceLove is a growing movement and community of mental health advocates, artists, friends, families, students, teachers, corporations, and community leaders who are invested in conversations of acceptance, understanding and hope.

Tickets are $50 and are available at www.peacelovestudios.com.  Sponsorships and program book ads are still available in a variety of price ranges.  For more information contact PeaceLove at info@peacelovestudios.com or Nancy Thomas at Tapestry Communications at nthomas@tapestrycommunications.com, or call 475.9778 or 447-8182.