One by One
Sun Foundation, Recipient

Sun Foundation

Washburn, Illinois

For generations, Sun Foundation has delivered art and environmental science programming for students in and around Washburn, Illinois. Founded in 1973 by artists and educators Joan Root and Robert Ericksen, the nonprofit’s mission is to strengthen and advance the arts and environmental sciences through innovative, high-quality programs, services, publications, research and much more. Its efforts have reached more than 5 million people, including many from underserved groups, schools and arts organizations.

Advancing arts and science

Much of Sun Foundation’s work is funneled into two programs. Clean Water Celebration is an annual, conference-style event that brings together educators, artists, experts and more than 1,500 students. The celebration focuses on the importance of water from multiple perspectives and educates students on protecting clean water for all living things. Since it began in 1994, the Clean Water Celebration has reached an estimated 60,000 people.

Another core event, Art and Science in the Woods, is a weeklong camp held in June that offers about 40 environmental science and art classes. As its name suggests, everything is set outdoors. Topics covered include everything from drawing and sculpting to survival skills and trail marking. Set on a huge farm in rural Illinois, the day camp is open to nearly 500 students, ages 6 through 18, each year.

Community support helps power Sun Foundation. The events mentioned above require the work of more than 100 volunteers, including many educators and others responsible for setup, takedown, traffic safety and much more. Also, grant sponsorships keep the organization’s programs accessible. Many students from underserved communities benefit from the experiences thanks to the goodwill of others.

Summer camp water bottles make a splash

A one by one grant provided water bottles for students who attended last summer’s Art and Science in the Woods program. The reusable summer camp water bottles allowed participants to stay hydrated while emphasizing the importance of clean water for sustaining life—a key theme in Sun Foundation’s work.

Jannell Justice, director of fundraising and events, said the water bottles were important because they ensured every student had access to drinking water throughout the week. And by choosing bottles with flip-up straws, students wouldn’t have to remove—and keep track of—a bottle cap.

The grant is an example of the type of support that makes Sun Foundation’s impact possible. “Opportunities like this are the lifeblood of the organization,” Justice said. “We just celebrated our 50th year as an organization and we’re lucky the founders are very active and extremely passionate, and they keep the engine well-oiled. But without opportunities like this, it would not be feasible to continue to educate the youth of tomorrow.”

A note from Cheryl

Sun Foundation has an impressive track record. For more than 50 years, it has engaged students with imaginative and vibrant art and environmental science programming. We were overjoyed to provide summer camp water bottles for Art and Science in the Woods and support the organization’s greater mission. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.com.

For more information about Sun Foundation, please visit https://www.sunfoundation.org/

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