Local Artwork Sheds Light on the City's Neediest Through 100 Neediest Cases Art Contest

    ST. LOUIS, MO, December 24, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Each year, 100 Neediest Cases program invites local artists at the high school and college level to submit a work of art that they created, pieces that depict the city's most destitute citizens. There are hundreds of entries year in and year out, and these illustrations are showcased in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch every week, along with descriptions of the subjects' stories. This year, the top 40 winners' masterpieces were on display at the Missouri History Museum from November 25 through December 9.

This contest, which helps bring the many diverse faces of need to life, has been even more successful in part due to a local art supply store's sponsorship.

For more than 20 years, Artmart has sponsored the 100 Neediest Cases art contest, providing the supplies that local students need in order to breathe life into their works.

"We are excited and honored to be sponsoring this contest once more," said Keith Baizer, owner of Artmart. "We enjoy giving back to the community, enabling others to give a helping hand to those in need, and supporting the arts. This contest helps us address all three of our passions in one spot."

The cases from the program come from more than 70 social service agencies that work through United Way and identify thousands of needy families each year. Volunteers then select 100 cases to be profiled in the newspaper, which help raise awareness and encourage donations for these families.

The 100 Neediest Cases program began in the 1900s when the Christmas festival provided dinner and toys to citizens in need. Now, United Way of Greater St. Louis and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have helped this program evolve by spreading the word of these families' plights and raising donations for the families through volunteers.

If you are interested in donating to the cause, you can donate online at http://www.stl.unitedway.org, call (314) 421-6060 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or mail a check to P.O. Box 955925, St. Louis, Mo. 63195.

For more information on Artmart or the contest, please call (314) 781-9999.

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