Artie's Party Raises $77,000

By Jim Hingst 

Charity Auction Supports the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site

On July 20^th to July 22^nd, more than 70 pinstripe artists joined “East Coast” Artie Schilling at the 6^th annual Artie’s Party charity auction. Each year the pinstriping gathering assembles at the Syracuse Nationals in Syracuse, New York at the New York State Fairgrounds.   The stripers donated their time and talents to decorate a variety of objects including tool boxes, purses, toilet seat covers and garbage cans.  Their works of art were auctioned off with all of the proceeds contributed to the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site. 

Appearing at Artie’s Party was John Schneider (center) of “Dukes of Hazard” fame, pictured with auctioneer Col. Richard Westlake (right) and show organizer Artie Schilling (left). 

The Syracuse Nationals is a classic car event which typically attracts more than 70,000 visitors each year.  At the 2012 Artie’s Party raised more than $77,000 for the McMahon/Ryan site. Over the last five years, Artie’s Party has raised nearly $300,000 in contributions for the advocacy site.  

Located near downtown Syracuse, the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center provides legal, medical and mental health services to victims of child abuse.

McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site provides a safe haven for sexually abused children and victims of domestic violence.  “One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused in this country before the age of eighteen,” says Executive Director Julie Cecile, who oversees the daily operations of the facility.  “Our mission at the advocacy center is to end child abuse through intervention and education.” 

The organization’s education program provides instruction on child abuse prevention to school age children.  Education also includes training of medical professionals and community agency workers, who more often than not lack the experience in sexual trauma.

“In Onondaga County, we had over 5000 child abuse hotline calls last year,” says Cecile. “That equates to over 9000 cases of suspected child abuse.  What makes our program unique is that all of the services required to process a case are under one roof.  Instead of shuffling a child from one location to another, we provide a ‘one stop shop’ so to speak. This makes the victims’ experience less traumatic, so the healing process begins much quicker.”

In June of 2011, the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center moved from its original location in a 3,000 square-foot facility to its new home, which had previously been the location of Syracuse University’s University College, a teaching hospital in the 1800s. Contributions from the Artie’s Party auctions have helped fund the move to the new building.

  

Before opening, the 30,000 square-foot building underwent a two million dollar renovation. The entire facility was remodeled to create an inviting, atmosphere for the children and to provide facilities for all of the various agencies, which comprise the Child Abuse Response Team (CART). These agencies include Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Clinic from Upstate Medical University, representatives from the Onondaga County Sheriff's department and Child Protective Services.

While the McMahon/Ryan group only maintains a staff of seven full time employees, the entire team of doctors, lawyers, police officers, county case workers and psychotherapists housed in the facility numbers between fifty and sixty. Fourteen detectives from the sheriff’s department are stationed full time at the advocacy center, so they can interview the victims in a relaxed environment rather than in the threatening setting of a police station.

Each year the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center serves nearly 300 child victims and their families. By providing a full range of services under one roof, the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site lessens the trauma experienced by the victims. These services include medical treatment and mental health counseling.

For a tour of the facility watch the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRCwFsZmGUw&feature=channel&list=UL. 

The Artists

Never shy in front of a camera, Robert “Nub” Collard poses in front of some of his panels. Nub has  painted  and pinstriped for Orange County Choppers, but now paints for  Paul Jr. Designs.

“Money raised at Artie’s Party has helped McMahon Ryan with the funding needed for hiring additional counselors,” says show organized Artie Schilling from Surfside Beach, South Carolina. 

Paint and brush master, Neil Meilliard from London, England, who has attended Artie’s Party four years, decorates a glass lamp.

At the show airbrush artist Jimmy Jackson painted this carved Tiki.

Julian “Mr. J” Braet, creator of Xcaliber striping brushes, developed his distinctive “Jersey Style” of bold graphics at the racetracks in the 60s and 70s.

Editor of Auto Art Magazine Bob Bond of Kansas City, MO (pictured above) is known for his traditional gold leaf designs and pinstriping.

Vendors who donated merchandise for the auction included PPG, the Evernham Family Racing for a Reason Foundation, Lincoln Technical Institute, DuPont Hot Hues, Gerber Scientific, RTape, and Xcaliber Corp. Ingersoll Rand provided two compressors and supplied equipment to air-condition the building where the stripers convened.   Trane/Ingersoll Rand/Midstate Golf Car donated a golf cart. 

Note the resemblance. Al Brush Battista from Long Island, NY painted this panel for Brian “the Brush” Briske.

Many of the finest stripers in the world traveled from as far away as California, England, Canada and New Zealand to participate at Artie’s Party.  Participants at Artie’s Party include John “Tramp” Warner, Donny Edwards, Brian “the Brush” Briske, Al Brush Battista, Sal Cabrera, Julian “Mr. J” Braet, Mike “Mikey Boy” Fredrick, Howie Nisgor, Robert “Nub” Collard, DeWayne Connot, Igor Acord, Neil Melliard, Tom Kelly and Zeke Lemanski. 

Although the pinstripers participating in the event enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow artists, what motivates them to devote their weekends to this charitable cause is the sense of satisfaction that they get knowing that they are helping children in need of care.  “I would like to thank all of my pinstriping friends,” says Art Schilling, “for contributing to the success of Artie’s Party.” Artie would also like to remind everyone that if you suspect child abuse, report it.

© 2012 Jim Hingst