I am lucky enough to work at a company that loves to give back to the local community. In my two years at liquidfish, we have worked on countless of websites and numerous print projects for nonprofits, and have also taken days off to volunteer in the community. I personally love to volunteer my time to numerous organizations including the Redbud Classic, Junior League of Oklahoma City, and Art With A Heart. My heart is truly happy when both my work and personal life align for a worthy cause.
This year, I had the opportunity to co-chair the 15th Annual Art With A Heart event, an event benefitting the children at OU’s Jimmy Everest Cancer Center. The organization’s volunteers host two art therapy days, after which we frame the artwork to sell and host the event in the lobby of the OU Children’s Hospital. The goal of the evening is to bring a smile to the kids’ faces and raise money for a great nonprofit.
At the beginning of the event, the kids are brought in via limousines and they ushered down a red carpet through cheering crowds yelling their names. It is a moment where they truly feel special. Throughout the evening, patrons can bid on the art pieces through a silent auction and at the end of the night, the highest bidder goes home with their treasured prize. This year we had over 60 pieces of art, an all-time record.
All the money raised at the event is donated to Oklahoma Children’s Cancer Association (OCCA), a nonprofit that provides a much-needed support system for families who have a child diagnosed with cancer. Coincidentally, the wonderful people of OCCA are enjoying their brand-new website which was designed and developed by—you guessed it—liquidfish, who was also gracious enough to design the Art With A Heart invitation and sponsorship form. The designs created a great balance of whimsy for the kids and professionalism for the attendees. For Cody Blake, owner and President of liquidfish, “We have a profound appreciation for all that the community of Oklahoma City has given us, and are honored to have the opportunity to give back.”
We could not host such an amazing event without the partnerships of local organizations and companies like liquidfish that generously donated their time and effort to our cause. It is because of these companies that nonprofits, charities, and their volunteers get to do what they do and make a difference in their community. For me, the experience of being in the middle of this kind exchange was truly special and made my efforts for the event all the more rewarding.