Tenth Annual “Art With Heart” Auction Raises More Than $100,000 For United Family Services’ Domestic Violence Programs

Charlotte, NC - The tenth annual Art With Heart art auction, held February 6, 2010 at Founders Hall, netted approximately $102,000 for United Family Services’ domestic violence programs. WCNC co-anchors Colleen Odegaard and Jeff Campbell co-hosted the evening which was attended by more than 700 people and featured over 200 pieces of art from top regional artists. With the funds raised from this year’s auction, the annual event has raised over $750,000 for United Family Services over the past ten years. Peggy and Bob Culbertson served as Honorary Chairs.

Auctioneer Mark Pierman, who also serves as United Family Services’ CEO, presided over the live auction.  The artwork of featured artists Eric Aho, Tony Hernandez, David Kroll, Chris Metze, and Benjamin Shamback was the highlight of the live auction. All five artists are represented by Hidell Brooks Gallery Charlotte, N.C. This year’s Emerging Artist winner Kenneth Laird was also featured in the live auction.

The auctioned artwork included paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and photographs and bidding was intense at times at both the live and silent auction bringing in a total of $87,000.

In celebration of ten years of this significant event, the Art with Heart Committee along with project’s honorary chair Andy Braitman, selected a group of leaders who epitomize the widely esteemed values, success, and dedication in our community to create a painting which represents their interpretation of a heart. These paintings were auctioned off at the event and joined the total auction proceeds to benefit United Family Services. Notables included Chief of Police Rodney Monroe, Shain Gallery owner Gabrielle Shain and University of North Carolina Head Basketball Coach Roy Williams, among others.

Over 50 strong, the Art With Heart volunteer committee was tirelessly led by Chair Lesley Shull and Co-Chair Dosty Quarrier who were instrumental in driving both attendance and sales for the event.

Media and corporate sponsors for the event include Berkeley Capital, The Bloom Room, Andy Braitman, Carolinas NewsChannel 36, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Englishman’s Fine Furnishings, Eric Olsen Ltd, Flagship Capital Partners, Gerrard Homes, Halstead Designs, Hardison Cartridge, Hawthorne Retail Partners, Heineken, KPMG, Kenny Color Laboratory, Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery, Larson Allen, Lincoln Harris, Lisa Sherry Interieurs, Mallard Creek Family Dentistry, The Marks Family Foundation, Mecklenburg County, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Neiman Marcus, Northwestern Mutual, Oxner Thomas & Permar, Red F, Courtney & John Scott, SignAge, The SunStar Companies, Turq Jewelry, and Robert E. Widis, DDS.

About Art With Heart

Art With Heart was started in 2000 when a group of local women decided to combine their extensive resources to plan a fun and educational benefit to help United Family Services launch programs for victims of domestic violence. For more information, visit www.artwithheartauction.com.

About United Family Services

United Family Services, a nonprofit United Way member, is a multi-faceted family service agency. Art With Heart benefits the agency’s domestic violence programs including The Shelter for Battered Women and Victim Assistance Court Services. These programs provide safety planning and shelter, counseling and support groups, children’s services, substance abuse services, court and legal advocacy, services for incarcerated women, on-site emergency room response to patients, training to medical professionals and dating violence prevention education.For more information, please visit www.unitedfamilyservices.org. Plans for the eleventh annual Art With Heart are under way.

For more information on donating, volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Becky Silverstein or Gracy Wooster, the 2011 Art With Heart Chairs, at 704-364-3000.