"When my dreams start to become the dreams of the characters in the book; when their reality becomes a part of my subconscious, when I can live in their landscape, when I put on a little red cape with a hood and tie the red ribbons under my chin, then I know what to do with my pictures."
Trina Schart Hyman, from her Caldecott Medal speech (1985)
August 22, 2007
Our friend Trina admired and supported the work of the Open Fields School in Thetford, Vermont. After her death in the fall of 2004, Tomie, working closely with Jean Aull, established a memorial endowment fund in her name "for the general support of the activities" of the school. We are now, in a one-time campaign, seeking to bring that endowment up to $50,000 by the end of 2007. As the first endowment fund established for the school, the income from that fund will provide a significant new source of income to assist in the imaginative and creative teaching and work that takes place there. We invite you, whether you were a friend of Trina's and/or a supported of Open Fields School, to join us in this effort. For thirty-six years, Open Fields School has served as a model alternative educational program that has nurtured and developed the artistic and creative spirit of its students. Our support will help ensure that the School will be able to continue its work for many years to come, and find new ways to challenge its faculty and students to do their very best. It will also be a lasting testimony to Trina's special creative skills and encourage others to strive to meet her high standards.
Our effort is strictly a voluntary one. We can assure you that 100% of your contribution will go directly into the endowment. None of your contributions, or the income from the endowment, will be needed, or used, for administrative services, to support this campaign, or for plaques or other extraneous purposes.
To make a contribution, please use the Donation/Pledge form. We ask donors to complete and forward the form to Open Fields School. Checks should be made out to '"Open Fields School - Trina Schart Hyman Memorial Endowment Fund". Contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. All contributions will be acknowledged promptly, and we will send all contributors a final report on the campaign. We welcome suggestions as to other who you think we might contact.
For further information, please contact:
Norman D. Stevens
143 Hanks Hill Road, Storrs, CT 06268
860.429.7051
normanstevens@mac.com