I'm celebrating the end of Brain Awareness Week - March 12-18, 2018 - with a fundraising art auction. I'll be sending the below 12x12" original work of art ($450 value) to the highest bidder who makes a donation to a brain-related charity of their choosing. The bidding starts at $100 and closes Sunday, March 25 at 5PM EST.

Pretty much everyone is touched in one way or another by brain disease or injury. Personally, friends and family of mine have been touched by Alzheimers, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors and traumatic brain injuries. We can all help by donating to organizations that support research, care and education.

Here is how the auction works:

• Pick the charity you want to support - must be brain related.
• Note in the comments here or send me an email with your suggested donation amount and the charity name. If the charity is not already on my list below, please include a link to their website. I will keep a running tally here of the highest bid.
  
• Bids close on March 25th at 5PM EST - and I will email the winning bidder.
  
• Winner makes their donation directly to the charity and sends me confirmation from the charity by March 31st.
• I mail out the above piece on April 1st and will cover shipping to all U.S. locations.
  
• The winner enJOYs a lovely piece of art and that good feeling that comes from donating to a good cause!
  

Unfortunately, I can't take international bids on this one, but maybe next time.

Suggested charities :

• Brain Research Foundation
• Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
• Cure Alzheimers Fund
• A Kids Brain Tumor Cure
• NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

I'm particularly interested in those organizations that fund neuroscience research but I also highly value the organizations that give support and care to patients and caregivers. I've made the above list of the top organizations I'd love to see supported and I'm happy to add to the list if you'd like to make recommendations in the comments. Please note that I will look them up online and make sure they are viable nonprofits with track records and high ratings from an online nonprofit rater such as Charity Navigator.

You can email me directly at Bundesen(at)gmail.com or just leave comments below. Make sure you add your email address and note that it will not be published. I'm the only one who will have access to it.

Thanks as always for stopping by and taking the time to visit my website. Hit the link below to see what work of mine is for sale. I have a wide range of originals and prints available - almost all of them are BRAINS - Yay!

Recently I was treated to spending an afternoon with my friend Linda and her daughter Monica. Linda and I first connected at a shared workplace when she saw my very first two Neuro Art pieces and asked if I could create a piece to her specifications. In particular, she wanted the brain to face the other direction. My first two were left facing and she wanted a right facing brain, explaining that she had a special connection, as her daughter had a hemispherectomy  when she was young and had the right half of her brain removed.

It was at least a year later when I actually got to meet Monica, an incredibly happy, engaging, and gregarious 29 year old woman who leads an active life in pursuit of both what makes her happy, and in service to others.  Below is an edited 16 minute interview with Monica and her Mom about her surgery, her life and what she wants you to know about being disabled.  It is missing a few key bits of information which got edited out: most importantly, Monica has worked for the last 9 years in a hospital as a toy cleaner - she goes in 3 days a week and loves her job. She also loves horse back riding! And, as you'll hear she lives a "happy, happy, happy life!"

Thanks to both Monica and her mom, Linda for sharing their story with me. Due to privacy concerns I am not sharing a photo of them but above is the piece that I made for them and that hangs in their home.

In case you prefer to read the interview - a transcript pdf file is below: