Nicklas and Special Spaces of Phoenix

I recently got to do a painting for a special event! Spcial Spaces of Phoenix creates dream bedrooms for kids with life threatening illnesses. Nicklas, a 7-year-old boy with a rare form of bone cancer was the first Special Spaces makeover in Phoenix.

Special Spaces did a makeover on Nicklas, and his brother Jacob's bedroom, his sister's bedroom, and also the family playroom.

This is the painting that I created for Nicklas' new playroom. His favorite colors are blue and green and his family enjoys putting puzzles together. I wanted him to always remember "U R LoveD !". Special Spaces allowed me to present Nicklas with the painting at the room reveal. I felt honored.

It was fun to see Nicklas' room redone in the fire fighter and police officer theme; I can't believe they did it all in one day! Firefighters and police officers, along with many friends, family, neighbors and strangers, were at the room reveal to welcome Nicklas home...he and his family arrived home in a fire truck!

Here is Nicklas in his new bedroom.

This was a great experience for me and I was honored to be included.

North Central News - November 2011

This was in today's North Central News! Yeah, I'm so happy that my artwork also gets to help promote my school!

and...

You'll need to click on the photo to read the whole article because it doesn't show up very well here.

!!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

I went on this 5k breast cancer walk with my sister, my dad, and some people from my dad's work. The walk was really fun because there were a lot of people there, and it was cool to see everyone was there to help raise money for a cure for breast cancer.

A Post from a Friend, Maureen Geraghty . . .

"Last night I had the privilege of meeting Maddy Rose. Maddy is 13 years old and an amazing young lady. She won a BBQ themed basket (which was made by her mother, Jenifer Anseth from MR Designs & Gifts) in a raffle at a networking event I was attending. Maddy thought it would be a great idea to auction off this basket so that she could raise some money for a charity that she supports, the 100 Club of Arizona.

I really didn’t know what the 100 Club was, so I listened as Maddy told us that it was a non-profit organization that supports firefighters and police officers and their families. Coming from a family of firefighters, I was intrigued. When she mentioned that the 100 Club supports the families of fallen firefighters, my heart skipped a beat. I bid on the basket, and won. (I did ask Maddy if the basket came with a single fireman, but bummer, it didn’t!)

When Maddy presented me with the basket I asked her about this organization and how she chose to support it. I thought she would have firefighters or police officers in her family. She said that she didn’t. She told me about how she looked at many non-profit organizations and went to the bottom of the list she was reviewing. She thought that going to the bottom of the list and choosing something from there may help an organization that is not so well known or supported. Her and her family researched the 100 Club and Maddy decided that this was the organization she would stand for. I was practically in tears at this point. Such an amazing young girl with such a passion for contribution.

I told Maddy about my family of firefighters. My grandfather, father, three brothers, a brother-in-law, and a nephew are or were New York City Firefighters. I also have three nephews that are volunteer firefighters that are waiting to get on the NYFD. The reason this touched me so deeply is because my brother Eddie, who was a NYFD Chief, was the person in New York that planned every funeral for fallen firefighters for years. Eddie volunteered to do this because he wanted to show respect to the firefighters and their families and make sure that the families were cared for. I lost my brother Eddie and my brother-in-law Tommy on September 11th. One of my brothers helped plan many of the funerals or memorial services that took place following 9/11. What really hit home for me is that the families of fallen firefighters and police officers from 9/11 have been well taken care of by a “world” community, yet the families of the fallen heroes after 9/11 do not receive this type of support. That is what the 100 Club of Arizona does. Through Maddy Rose, I found an organization that provides comfort and support to people that truly deserve it. I did not even know this organization existed until now.

Maddy has been selling artwork that she creates to raise funds for the 100 Club. I not only love her passion for giving back, I love that her passion connected me with my brother in an amazing way last night. Thank you Maddy Rose – and thank you to all of the firefighters, police officers and their families for your service to all of us. I am grateful to the 100 Club for the difference they make in people’s lives."

- Maureen Geraghty

In the Zona Magazine

In the Zona Magazine, October 2011 issue....check it out!

If you would like to see the whole article, click here!

ZONA: What one word describes you best? MADDY: Fun. ZONA: You were recently awarded the outstanding student scholarship at VCCA. How did that make you feel? MADDY: Well, for the last couple of years the VCCA teachers and staff have worked together and nominated a student to receive a full tuition scholarship, and I was chosen this year to receive that honor! The certificates says "A Certificate of Excellence - Outstanding Student - Thank you for being an outstanding student who works without complaining, shows a good attitude and is compassionate and caring." It was kind of shocking! At first I couldn't believe it and then I was excited because of how much I want to be at this school. ZONA: How do you maintain such a high grade point average? Does it take hard work, or were you just born smart? MADDY: Well, there are some things that I really enjoy and love to do, like creative writing and reading, so those types of subjects come more easily to me. Things like math, Latin, and logic are harder for me, so I need to work harder on them to get good grades. ZONA: What volunteer work do you do? Why do you volunteer? MADDY: I volunteer at Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op on Saturday mornings, helping to set out the baskets, break down produce boxes and help take the food to people's cards. I also volunteer at the Mt. of Olives Food Bank once a week, where I help with whatever is needed. I started out volunteering because my mom said that I should. Now, I like helping out at the food bank because I like to see the reactions of the people as they get their food and other needs. I especially like working on the front line and handing out the food to people. ZONA: You're also a good artist. Tell us about your artwork. MADDY: Thanks! I like to paint, mostly on canvas. I also like working with different mediums, like collage and 3-D paints. I started painting when I was about 2 years old. I have a piece of paper taped on the wall next to my bed so that if I have an idea about a painting i can write it down before I forget it People say my artistic style is illustrative". I recently started selling my art to raise money for my future education; and also, I'm giving 20% of the proceeds to the 100 Club of Arizona. The 100 Club is a charity that supports the families of firefighters and policemen that are killed or injured in the line of duty. ZONA: Can readers see your artwork on facebook? MADDY: Yes! They can go to Facebook.com/MaddyRoseARtist. Some of the paintings are for sale now; others are pictures of ones that were commissioned or already sold so that you can get an idea of what I can create for you. I put up pictures of my new paintigns frequently so if you see one that you are interested in you can contact me through the Facebook page. ZONA: If you could invite any two people, dead or alive, make-believe or real, to dinner with your family, who would you invite and what would you serve them? MADDY: Probably Leonardo da Vinci because he was so creative and inventive. And also J.K. Rowling because she is an incredible author. I would ask them what they wanted to eat and, if they didn't have a preference, I would give them spaghetti or breakfast-for-dinner. ZONA: Night owl or early bird? Fruits or vegetables? Cats or dogs? The zoo or the aquarium? Roller coaster or meerry-go-round? MADDY: DEFINITELY Night owl. Fruits (but I also love carrots). Dogs (cuz I'm allergic to cats). Zoo (because they have the reptile room). Totally roller coasters, front row, hands up; no doubt. ZONA: Any ZONA "shout outs"? MADDY: Hi, Mom and Dad! Thank you for all of your support.

TV12 - August 13, 2011

Here's a link to the story that TV 12 did on Saturday August 13, 2011. There was also a small "preview" story in the 6 o'clock news but I don't have a copy of that one.

100 Club of Arizona Press Release

Media Contact
Ciara R. Franklin
100 Club of Arizona
Marketing & Public Relations
602-485-0100 office
623-696-5070 cell
ciara@100club.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2011

Young artist sells work to save for college, raise funds for public safety families
12-year-old Maddy Rose is using her talent to help pay for college tuition and support the 100 Club of Arizona

PHOENIX – Although Phoenix resident Madelyn Rose, known as Maddy to her friends and family, isn’t old enough to get a driver’s license or even a real job, she is already becoming an established entrepreneurial. The 12-year-old is selling her artwork of various themes and mediums to her family, friends, and Facebook fans.

At just two years old, young Maddy was using brushes and canvases to create mini-masterpieces. “I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist, and use my God-given talent to help other people,” she said.

The eighth grader at Valley Classical Christian Academy has decided to donate 20% of the money earned to the 100 Club of Arizona to help families in need, as well as help children of public safety go to college. She chose the 100 Club because the nonprofit is there to ease the pain of the families of officers and firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty.

Maddy wants to use the rest of the money earned to help save for her education, as she knows it’s going to cost more than her weekly allowance. She wants to attend Grand Canyon University at first, and transfer to Geneva College in Pennsylvania to finish up her degrees in Art and Business.

“While elementary school prepares us for high school and high school prepares us for college, college prepares us for life,” Maddy observed. “I think everybody needs to be educated so that they can know what they’re doing when they get into the real world.”

She has a collection of artwork on sale on her Facebook account and her Blog, and also takes special request orders. Her favorite things to paint are Koi fish with water colors, and modern-impressionistic art with acrylics on canvas. Paintings range from $20.00 - $50.00 and can be framed or mounted. Maddy is also raffling off some of her acrylic-based artwork at $5.00 a raffle ticket. For more information, contact Ciara at the 100 Club of Arizona, 602-485-0100.

About the 100 Club of Arizona
The 100 Club of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to public safety officers and firefighters when they are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty, and to provide resources to enhance their safety and welfare. It was started in 1968, became a 501(c)(3) in 1968, and has given more than $5.6 million in financial support to Arizona’s men and women who stand behind the badge. For more information, log on to www.100club.org or email info@100club.org.

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