Buy a window, support a daycare

Where better to raise awareness of the need to re-home a stunning Leo Mol stained glass window in support of an excellent cause than right here in the Homes section of the Winnipeg Free Press?

Nowhere. That’s where.

The story in a nutshell: Sandy Sutherland, executive director of the Harstone Children’s Centre — which actually has five separate daycare facilities in Winnipeg’s West End, has a challenge on her hands.

Back in about 2010, the Harstone board approved the purchase of a former United Church located on Sargent Avenue at Ingersoll. They were already running a daycare centre in rented space in the church, but the goal became to transform the entire former church into a daycare facility. This meant a huge reno, which is an expensive undertaking to say the least.

Following consultations with architectural firms, chats over coffee and considerable brainstorming, it’s come down to the general conclusion that it will take about $2 million to get the job done.

So, although the Harstone group hasn’t committed to a specific fundraising campaign in support of this particular project yet, they are raising funds towards that end, selling some of the church assets as part of the endeavour.

One of the blessings included with the purchase of the church is the beautiful stained glass window at the front overlooking the congregation, the creation of internationally recognized and renowned Winnipeg artist Leo Mol.

The window is signed twice by the extraordinary Mol, followed by the number 60, which I believe indicates the year he completed the window for the church.

The great news being presented here today is that, as we speak, there is a Leo Mol original stained glass window available for purchase, the size being approximately seven and a half feet wide by either nine feet and a few inches tall, or 11 and a few inches tall if the bottom three rectangular windows not shown here are included as part of the work — value being in the eye of the beholder.

My intention for bringing this to you today is to ask for help and suggestions as to the highest-profile, most-effective way to market this beautiful Leo Mol stained glass work of art.

So architects, art collectors, entrepreneurs, Leo Mol collectors and whoever may be interested, opportunity knocks.

If you can help Sandy with suggestions and ideas for raising the most money possible in support of the non-profit Harstone Children’s Centre fundraising challenge, or just write a big cheque and take it home yourself (I’ll lend you my trailer), please do what you can. I’ll include Sandy’s contact information below.

The various West End Harstone centres are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, taking care of more than 200 local children, ranging in age from infants to age 12.

Once the former church is renovated and transformed, it will be a huge asset to local families — a safe, happy place for kids to be while their loved ones are off making the considerable income required to raise a family and provide a home these days.

I had the good fortune to know Mol at an acquaintance level through my media years, and even took my daughter, Andrea, to local artists’ sketch club gatherings where, one evening, the gentle Mol did a pencil work of her. Such a nice man.

I’m sure he would be delighted to know that one of his creations can now help a local non-profit daycare centre develop a new facility for local families.

Every time I go in the Harstone Children’s Centre at 905 Sargent, I hear kids laughing, and get lots of smiles and hello’s from great kids and the staff watching over them. Anything we can do to help local families provide a safe haven for their children, especially in the crazy world of today, I’m sure you agree, we should.

So please send today’s column off to anyone — anywhere in the world — who you think may be interested in purchasing or offering sale ideas in support of Sandy’s challenge.

Further information is available at harcc@mts.net, or by calling Sandy personally at Harstone Children’s Centre, 204-783-6175. Thanks for any help or advice you can offer.

Comments or feedback, love to hear from you!

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