Celebrating 17 Years of the drawchange Family!

A vibrant collage of masterpieces created by our resilient young artists.

Growth is a natural part of who we are, just like it is for the children we serve. Today, we’re not just celebrating a date on a calendar; we’re celebrating 17 years of transforming emotions into powerful expressions of hope and resilience. From our earliest days in 2009 to our current 2026 vision, every brushstroke’s been a testament to the belief that art is the most powerful language of all. 

The Gift That Keeps Growing: Our Global drawchange Family

This drawchange birthday serves as a beautiful reminder of our Founder’s roots. Our journey began with a single artist, Jennie Lobato, who used abstraction to process life’s darker moments. That personal refuge evolved into a global mission that now stretches from Atlanta to Addis Ababa. We’ve moved beyond from serving impoverished children to providing trauma-informed, art therapy-based programming for any child experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). 

Another Year Wiser: How We're Glowing Up

We’re not just looking back at where we’ve been; we’re focusing on how we’ll deepen our impact through 2026 and beyond. Our goals are centered on securing sustainable funding to solidify our most impactful programs, ensuring every child has access to a consistent, creative safe space for self expression.

Transforming pain into purpose, one child and one brushstroke at a time.

We’ll also be strengthening our evaluation practices to better understand the therapeutic magic that happens in every session. It’s all part of our unwavering commitment to use our mission to reach children where they need us most.

Our Birthday Wish: $17 for 17 Years

As we celebrate this milestone, our commitments remain unwavering: we unlock potential, nurture imagination, and strengthen self-esteem. To honor 17 years of impact, we’re inviting you to gift a $17 birthday donation—one dollar for every year of our journey—to help us secure sustainable funding for programs like our annual Art Camp. The children thank you!

🧡 Happy Birthday to Us!

Click now to donate $17 for 17 years!