Easter Seals Art Contest

S U M M A R Y

Contest / Scholarship

Type:

Art

Description:

Objective: To secure beautiful original lily art work from which Easter Seals can select six pieces that will become the 2011 Easter Seals seal stamps.

Background: Easter Seals, founded in 1919, is a non-profit organization which provides programs and services to help children and adults with disabilities achieve independence. Since 1934, Easter Seals has been using decorative stamps to raise money and create awareness of its programs.

Over the years, the stamps have transformed into the organization's logo -- the lily -- and have come to be known as Easter seals. Last year, about 19 million households nationwide received the organization's seals.

Benefit: Participating in this program is a wonderful opportunity to gain national exposure for your creative talents, while at the same time helping Easter Seals to raise funds to provide programs and services for people with disabilities.

Art Specifications:

Drawing or painting of lily
Watercolor, oil, pastels, colored pencils, or computer generated
No smaller than 8-1/2" x 11"
No larger than 18" x 24"
Vertical orientation

Art Submission
: Please complete this entry form and return it along with the artwork to
: Easter Seals
ATTN: Lisa Skaggs
233 South Wacker Drive
Suite #2400
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Deadline for Art Submission:
Friday, August 20, 2010

Notification of Winners
: Via letter by Friday, October 1, 2010

Should my painting include only one lily?
Your artwork may include one or multiple lilies. But please focus only on the lily/lilies -- do not include a vase or anything that will take away from the flowers.

How many pieces of artwork can I submit?
You may include as many pieces of art as you would like to submit. Please be sure to include an entry form for each piece of art submitted.

Should I include the words “Easter Seals” and the year on my artwork?
No. If your artwork is chosen, the year and “Easter Seals” will be added to it at the printing stage.

Should I sign my artwork?
It is up to the artist if he or she wishes to sign the artwork. The majority of entries are signed by the artist. We recommend signing it in the lower right-hand corner as to not distract from the image.

Will my artwork be returned to me?
If your artwork is not chosen as one of the final six pieces of art, your artwork will be returned to you.

Can I submit photography for the Seal Art Contest?
No, we do not accept photography for the art contest. But if you would like to submit a photo for the Easter Seals floral calendar, contact Easter Seals for more information.

Sponsor:

Easter Seals

Sponsor's Goals:

En Español
The Story of Easter Seals

Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for nearly 90 years. From child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with disabilities, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.

Tragedy Leads to Inspiration
In 1907, Ohio-businessman Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident. The lack of adequate medical services available to save his son prompted Allen to sell his business and begin a fund-raising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Through this new hospital, Allen was surprised to learn that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired by this discovery, in 1919 Allen founded what became known as the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind.

The Birth of the Seal
In the spring of 1934, the organization launched its first Easter "seals" campaign to raise money for its services. To show their support, donors placed the seals on envelopes and letters. Cleveland Plain Dealer cartoonist J.H. Donahey designed the first seal. Donahey based the design on a concept of simplicity because those served by the charity asked "simply for the right to live a normal life."

The lily -- a symbol of spring -- was officially incorporated as Easter Seals' logo in 1952 for its association with resurrection and new life and has appeared on each seal since.

Easter Seals Emerges
The overwhelming public support for the Easter "seals" campaign triggered a nationwide expansion of the organization and a swell of grassroots efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. By 1967, the Easter "seal" was so well recognized, the organization formally adopted the name "Easter Seals."

Easter Seals Today
Easter Seals offers help, hope and answers to more than a million children and adults living with autism and other disabilities or special needs and their families each year. Services and support are provided through a network of more than 550 sites in the U.S. and through Ability First Australia. Each center provides exceptional services that are individualized, innovative, family-focused and tailored to meet specific needs of the particular community served.

Primary Easter Seals services include:

Medical Rehabilitation
Employment & Training
Children's Services
Adult & Senior Services
Camping & Recreation

Americans With Disabilities Act

Easter Seals also advocates for the passage of legislation to help people with disabilities achieve independence, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Passed in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against anyone who has a mental or physical disability, guaranteeing the civil rights of people with disabilities.

At the core of the Easter Seals organization is a common passion for caring, shared by its 23,000 staff members and thousands of volunteers, and by those who support its mission. This heart-felt commitment to helping people with disabilities and their families is what Easter Seals is all about.

Easter Seals provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities.

Deadline:

2010-08-20

P R I Z E S

Total # of Prizes:

Low Prize:

Top Prize:

R E Q U I R E M E N T S

Applies To:

For Residents of:

Grades:

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,College,Adult

Other Requirements:

F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N

Web Site:

Telephone: