A Successul Charitable Event: Sawdust Artists’ Benevolence Fund “HeART of Laguna”

Laguna Beach, CA – On Saturday, March 3 at 7 pm, the Sawdust Artists’ Benevolence Fund Trustees hosted a successful charitable event, the “HeART of Laguna,” featuring Jason Feddy’s critically acclaimed Shakespeare’s Fool concert, complete with live band and Shakespearean actors on the Festival of Arts grounds. The monies raised at this community event will go directly to the Artists’ Benevolence Fund in attempt to replenish the $30,900 in actual grants that were provided to the many Laguna Beach artists that suffered financial loss during the 2011 winter floods.

Artists’ Benevolence Fund Trustee, Mike Kelly, voiced the importance of the first annual event, “Artists are the heart of Laguna. It’s been that way for a hundred years, and while it’s impossible to place a monetary value on how the arts enhance and define our community, it’s pretty easy to come up with a number of what it takes for someone to feed their family and meet their financial obligations.”

Kelly continues, “and so to ensure a healthy heartbeat for our wonderful town, the Artists’ Benevolence Fund provides a means of financial support to artists who may have nowhere else to turn when disaster prevents them from creating their art.  Our HeART of Laguna event on March 3 was not only a remarkably entertaining evening, but helped replenish the Fund’s resources to ensure a means of helping Laguna artists for a long time to come. When an artist can’t create their art, this precarious existence can move even closer to the edge. And for our community to lose just one artist slows the town’s heartbeat, because the arts are truly the lifeblood of Laguna.”

Supporters of this event enjoyed the dynamic live act of rock ‘n roll songs accompanying the monologues from the plays of William Shakespeare. Energetic and light-hearted, Shakespeare’s Fool is a unique and original theatrical production not to be missed.

About the Artists’ Benevolence Fund
The Sawdust Artists’ Benevolence Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping working artists, living in Laguna, during catastrophic events and extreme financial difficulties due to natural disaster, personal illness or any debilitating circumstance that prevents the artist from doing their craft. The Artists’ Benevolence Fund was started in 1987 to help a critically ill Sawdust artist suffering from a catastrophic event and unable to work.  His fellow exhibitors joined forces, donated their artwork and sold it to obtain financial support for their colleague. For more info, Artists’ Benevolence Fund Trustee Sue Thompson can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About the Sawdust Art Festival
The Sawdust Art Festival is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Road. The Sawdust Art Festival is a non-profit art organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting the art created in Laguna Beach.  Two-hour Sawdust Studio Art Classes are offered every Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the Sawdust Art Festival Grounds. To check out more details about the Sawdust Art Festival and other upcoming events and festivals, please navigate to www.sawdustartfestival.org or call 949-494-3030.