Refuge challenges you to help us to continue to make a difference.
2008 was Refuge's 3rd year and most successful year. We would like to share some of those successes with you, and ask for your help to continue our mission with a year-end donation.

Of the things we can quantify, we had 5 exhibitions (2 traveling, Northstar Healthcare and Jonathan's 3161 N. Halsted), exhibited 182 artists and show cased 462 pieces of art. We held 3 workshops, and over the course of the year, 117 volunteers have helped us along the way and each and every event and exhibition was well attended.  We had our yearly fundraiser event, and even started an AA meeting at the gallery. And those are the successes we can tally in concrete terms. What feels even more important is knowing that we've supported so many great artists, touched the general public, built community and given encouragement on levels we could never measure.

Despite the tough economic times, and although we face our own share of challenges, we enter the New Year invigorated and energized. Our 2009 program has been established and we're doing more to reach new artists and expand our audience even more than last year.
Recently, Joe B. was on WBEZ's Magnificent Obsession talking about what his life was like, what happened, and what it's like now - he told the story of how Refuge has changed his life, contributed to his ability to create and market his artwork because of our support. His and other stories touch our hearts and remind us that we're making a difference.

Please consider helping us continue this work. Refuge is a 501(c)(3 non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.