We set the not-for-profit up 14 years ago as a private
501c3. under the original name of The Steve Everitt Foundation. Our son
(Steven) was playing in the NFL at the time and it was a way to give
back. When he retired, my wife (Barbara) and I took the foundation over
as our own and re-named it The Art Box Kids. We chose to stop sending
donations, and auction items and memorabilia to a bunch of different
entities in all the cities Steven had played. Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and St Louis. I came up with the concept of plastic shoe
boxes filled with arts and craft supplies and deliver them to children's wards
in hospitals, Child Abuse Centers, Homeless Shelters, and organizations who
serve children with life threatening diseases. We decided it would be
much more efficient if we kept the program local. Local being the Piedmont
area. destinations that could be delivered to personally. The K.I.S.S.
principle personified!
We also decided to keep the NFP small. under $10,000.00 per year to avoid all sorts of Government red tape, hoops to jump through, and attached strings. We have no overhead. No one is paid. There is no rent or phone. only the very simple internet page ($9.00/Month) www.artboxkids.org.
We also decided to keep the NFP small. under $10,000.00 per year to avoid all sorts of Government red tape, hoops to jump through, and attached strings. We have no overhead. No one is paid. There is no rent or phone. only the very simple internet page ($9.00/Month) www.artboxkids.org.
We accept donations of dollars, art and craft supplies, and
plastic shoe boxes from individuals and private businesses. We refuse to
ask for. or accept donations and/or grants from any entity that contains
taxpayer money. No Government grants. and No grants from organizations like
(but not exclusively) The Arts and Science Council here in Mecklenburg
County. and the Foundation for the Carolinas. since both receive money from
Charlotte and from the state and federal government arts programs. I
believe it is immoral to force another person to support our passions.
After all. 'Required' giving is (by definition) no longer Charity.
We have averaged between 800 and a thousand Art Boxes per year since we started. We have delivered boxes to both major hospitals in Charlotte, Holy Angels in Belmont, several shelters and homes throughout the area and to individual families in need during the holidays.
We have averaged between 800 and a thousand Art Boxes per year since we started. We have delivered boxes to both major hospitals in Charlotte, Holy Angels in Belmont, several shelters and homes throughout the area and to individual families in need during the holidays.
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