The Free to Inspire Award honors a volunteer who is an inspiration to the Free Arts family. This award recognizes a volunteer within their first two years of service with our organization who displays outstanding enthusiasm and dedication to Free Arts programs.

Kim Appis became a volunteer in the summer of 2009 and has been a Weekly Mentor since.  She has participated in our Professional Artist Series and Multicultural Arts Camps, as well.  In the fall of 2010 Kim pioneered the Phoenix Children’s Hospital bracelet project, wherein youth in our Weekly Mentor Program created over 300 bracelets which they donated to sick children living at the hospital.  Several other Weekly Mentors were inspired by Kim’s innovation and brought the project to their groups, as well.  To really emphasize the impact of their work, Kim organized a meeting for her mentor group with Phoenix Children’s Hospital staff where they were given an all access experience and were able to see all the wonderful things PCH does for their patients.  The PCH staff also shared with the group how important they believe art is in the healing process.  Free Arts is impressed and inspired by Kim!

Congratulations, Kim! Thank you for your creativity, style and enthusiasm.

Photo: Kim Appis (right) with Free Arts of Arizona Executive Director, Barb DuVal Fenster (left) at the Phoenix Children's Hospital