By Dee Grenert Editor
CULVER — Culver Academies student Claire VanLanding-ham put out a call for artwork donations.
Her fellow students came through in a big way.
VanLandingham, Culver Girls Academy’s Leadership Committee for Africa (LCA) fundraising chair, estimated that approximately 80 pieces went on sale on the walkway in front of the Academies’ dining hall Saturday.
Proceeds benefited Christel House Organization, which educates poverty-stricken children in South Africa, and Amani Children’s Foundation — a group serving African infants orphaned by AIDS.

“A ton of kids and faculty came out of the woodwork,” VanLandingham, a junior from Plymouth, said. “It was a huge team effort. I thought we’d probably only receive artwork from the art department, but I found out there’s so many people on campus interested in art and willing to donate. I was pleasantly surprised.”
LCA research and educational chair Anna Mahalak, a junior from Monroe, Mich., also appreciated the outpouring.
“A lot of (the art) is student donated,” she said. “(Center for Leadership’s Nancy) McKinnis’ office was stacked with art. It makes me really excited to be a part of LCA. It makes us feel so official.”
Held in conjunction with the Academies’ Alumni Weekend, the fair offered jewelry, paintings and ceramics, in addition to a live band and food.
Items snapped up early during the three-hour fair included an African drum from Senegal and a ceramic of a cadet’s shoe.
“We’ve sold a lot; we’ve already surpassed my expectations,” VanLandingham said midway through the event. “We’ve also received donations which I wasn’t expecting. It’s pure profit. We’re really raising a lot of money for these organizations.”
Stationery, adapted from pictures colored by impoverished children in Cape Town, South Africa, held a special place at the art fair.
Sophomore Brady Banks selected the pictures and with the help of Director of Strategic Communications Bill Hargraves turned the pictures into cards printed at the school’s administrative services.
“Each package contains five blank cards that are all unique,” Banks said. “Each set is $10 and each card contains the CGA and Christel House mission statements. I decided to do this as a fundraiser. I’m very passionate about it.”
The cards are also sold at the Academies’ bookstore and Culver Coffee Company.
The art fair grew, in part, out of LCA’s 2006 spring break journey to Africa. While VanLandingham and Mahalak met many poverty-stricken children during that trip, both students marveled at the qualities that transcend cultures, as well as the can-do attitudes of African youngsters.
“I was talking to a boy who uses the language with clicks,” VanLandingham said. “I asked him to write something. He asked, ‘What do you want me to write? My phone number?’ Kids are the same everywhere.”
“(African children) are so inspirational,” Mahalak added. “They are so hopeful. They want to make a difference, even while they’re living in these dire circumstances.”
LCA, which addresses issues of hunger, poverty and the AIDS crisis in Africa, currently boasts more than 100 members. Krystal Brun is chairperson of the group.