Colina’s Charity-centred Calendar Highlights, Raises Funds for Local Non-profits

• Sales of first edition prints of artwork featured in “The Art of Charity” raise $8,000 for 12 worthy causes

After producing Generations of Bahamian Culture, the 2010 corporate calendar featuring familiar personalities and new faces of The Bahamas’ visual and performing arts scene, Colina Insurance Limited releases its 2011 calendar under the theme The Art of Charity. The calendar highlights the work of 12 local charitable organizations who, through service, have contributed greatly to nation building. From humanitarian aid and disaster relief to music education and animal rights, the organizations featured in the calendar bring to light the diversity of non-profit groups at work to alleviate suffering in The Bahamas.

Each organization’s mission statement was used to inspire a graphic illustration by artist Theo McClain of local branding and advertising firm Karma Design. The illustration was then paired with a quote that draws attention to the plight that the organization is helping to alleviate. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the calendar was also designed as a promotional tool for the featured organizations, and lists the dates of each organization’s major fundraising events in order to boost interest, support and donations for their key initiatives.

The calendar launched in December with a showing of the featured artwork and a silent auction of limited first edition prints. With art enthusiasts and patrons of the respective charities on hand, funds raised from the sale of the 12 pieces totalled $8,000 and were donated to each of the charities just before Christmas.

“This programme was an important opportunity for Colina to continue its celebration of key service organizations that make a difference in the lives of Bahamians,” says Melanie Hutcheson, Corporate Communications Officer at Colina. “For the past 17 years our pivotal role in corporate social responsibility has been as organizers and presenting sponsors of the annual Red Ribbon Ball – the largest fundraiser for the Bahamas AIDS Foundation. We proudly undertake The Art of Charity calendar as an avenue to provide organizations like the AIDS Foundation with another opportunity to raise awareness about the work they are doing in the community.”

The calendar features Rotary Clubs of Nassau (volunteerism); Zonta Club of Nassau (advancing the rights of women; the Bahamas Scout Association (youth development); REACH (autism awareness); Bahamas Humane Society (ethical treatment of animals); Ranfurly Homes for Children (abandoned and neglected children); Bahamas National Trust (environmental sustainability); Nassau Music Society (music education); Bahamas Historical Society (historical preservation); Bahamas AIDS Foundation (HIV/AIDS treatment, research and support); The Salvation Army (humanitarian aid); and The Bahamas Red Cross (disaster relief), featured on the cover.

The 2011 “Art of Charity” calendar is a publication of the Communications Department at Colina. Please contact Melanie Hutcheson, Corporate Communications Officer, at 396.2000 or melanie.hutcheson@colina.com if you have questions concerning the calendar or the artist or if you would like to donate to the charities featured.