LOS ANGELES, CA, March 15, 2020 – LA-based artist Randi Russo is doing something special for those in need. She is currently running a unique kind of fundraising campaign. Formerly called “March Gladness 2020” – which has now been renamed “Get & Give 2020” – Russo will be donating 20% of sales from any of her paintings purchased from now until April 15th to a charity of the buyer’s choice from a list of 20 non-profit organizations chosen by Russo herself. The organizations range from causes dedicated to human rights (including some specifically engaged in women’s causes) to animal rights to climate-crisis causes to cancer research and to other health-related organizations, most importantly including one run by the CDC Foundation in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Russo said, “I have combined selling my art with raising money for charities in the past but usually it’s in conjunction with an event such as an art opening or studio open house.” She added that, “however, this is an online campaign.”
On the artist’s blog and on her social media accounts, Russo introduced her March Gladness 2020 campaign back on March 2nd, and it became apparent within several days that it had become the right name at the wrong time, but as she then emphasized, “its mission is [still] important.” Her solution: rename it as the Get & Give 2020 Project and move forward. She stated, “I feel so much more comfortable with this name… and it gives me a chance to do something else: extend the campaign until April 15th.”
The purpose of this campaign is two-fold. It not only helps the selected non-profit organizations, but it also reinforces Russo’s belief that artists and their art deserve respect from buyers. On her Facebook page, she addressed the value of a work of art beyond its price tag. In order to help her followers understand why she uses donations instead of putting paintings “on sale,” she explains that it is to keep the integrity of the art intact. “Not only [do] I care about these 20 important organizations which do good in the world, but I also care about valuing artwork and valuing artists who create the work.” Russo said, “It is [also] important to protect the collector who supports artists directly (financially) and indirectly (emotionally). It’s imperative that I protect their investment in my work by protecting the value of my work.” Finally, she asks her readers to “Help lift artists up! Don’t bring them down,” and added, “I hope the donation to charity is an incentive... maybe I’m not receiving as much income but the integrity of the work is maintained.”
To date, Habitat for Humanity, the Hirshberg Foundation of Pancreatic Cancer Research, and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) have all benefited from this project.
For more information and a list of the selected charities, go to www.randirusso.com, or contact the artist directly at rr@randirusso.com