Toronto’s Casey House celebrates the success of the 21st annual Art With Heart, raising $720,000 for compassionate HIV/AIDS care

Toronto, ON – October 16, 2014

Casey-House-Art-With-Heart-Logo1-159x300Presented by TD, Toronto’s Casey House is celebrating the success of its signature fundraising event, Art With Heart, which raised $720,000 for compassionate HIV/AIDS during the evening of October 7, 2014.

Now in its 21st year, this annual contemporary auction and reception took place at The Carlu (444 Yonge Street) and raised essential funds for the organization. Featuring some of the country’s most celebrated contemporary artists, the funds raised will benefit Casey House initiatives including sending skilled teams of registered nurses and workers into clients’ homes, providing rehabilitative care and recreation therapy at Casey House, and bringing specialized HIV nursing care via partner clinics to marginalized people who lack access to treatment.

“Today, more people in Toronto are living with HIV than in 1988, when we first opened Casey House’s doors,” says Steven Endicott, Chief Development Officer, Casey House. “Not only do events like Art With Heart connect us with our community, but they allow us to raise the necessary funds to better assist people in Toronto living with this very challenging disease.”

Since the inception of Art With Heart, over $6 million has been raised with the generous bids and donations from Casey House supporters, donors and art lovers.

Art With Heart has consistently promoted excellence in Canadian contemporary art. A curatorial committee of prominent artists, curators, collectors, art enthusiasts and gallery owners select works by emerging and established Canadian artists. From oil on canvas to digital photography, supporters and art collectors alike were drawn to this year’s incredible collection from some of Canada’s most celebrated artists including Douglas Coupland, Kim Dorland, Erik Olson, and many more.

Art With Heart 2014 featured limited edition work by the collaborative duo Nicholas Pye and Sheila Pye. Their photograph series Unspoiled is a body of work that evolved out of a desire to ‘perform’ Nicholas and Sheila’s shared personal bond using nature and landscape as territory. A few of these works may still be purchased at www.artwithheart.ca.

In addition to showcasing the works of established Canadian artists, Art With Heart continued its support of emerging artists who push boundaries and influence change.

About Casey House

Founded in 1988, Casey House (9 Huntley Street, Toronto) was the first freestanding HIV/AIDS facility in Canada, creating a specialty HIV/AIDS hospice with community programs including home nursing care and outreach. Free of stigma and fear, Casey House is committed to providing compassionate health care for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, in collaboration with its communities.

For more information visit:
www.artwithheart.ca
www.caseyhouse.com

Follow Casey House on Twitter:
@caseyhouseTO

Like Casey House on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/CaseyHouseTO

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Available for Interviews:
Stephanie Karapita, Chief Executive Officer, Casey House

Steven Endicott, Chief Development Officer, Casey House

For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant
[email protected]
Amira de Vera
[email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
USA 855.596.2978

Casey House
Kathleen Sandusky, Communications Specialist
[email protected]
416.434.7763