Building a Dream

In the early 90’s, Art Buddies founder Sue Crolick, an award-winning designer with a love of creativity and a heart for bringing creativity to kids through free arts mentoring, dreamed of tapping the special talent and energy of creative people, and sharing that creative joy with kids!

Sue knew how much creative people wanted to give back, ever since she organized an event to help kids at St Joseph’s Home for Children in 1993. Hundreds of creative volunteers from the Minnesota chapter of AIGA (the professional association for graphic design) showed up to work with the kids, and their hearts were in it!

“I sensed a big reservoir of talent and goodwill within our creative community, waiting to be tapped,” Sue says. She had a strong feeling that it was time to leave her design career and pursue her dream. Sue didn’t travel far though, Twin Cities premiere Advertising and Public Relations firm, Carmichael Lynch has hosted Art Buddies with its office space and a full array of administrative support. The support of this creative industry partners makes this meaningful work possible.

Taking the leap

In 1994, Sue founded the nonprofit Creatives for Causes that later became Art Buddies.

In 1997, Stephanie Vagle, a child educator who loved the arts, joined the team.

Together, Sue and Steph built Art Buddies into a powerful and successful creative mentor program.

Expanding Art Buddies

In 2011, Art Buddies hired Scott Mikesh, a creative business owner, former mentor and member of our Advisory Board, to help expand the Minneapolis-based program. With Scott's help, Art Buddies doubled the number of children we served.

Continuing the vision

In 2013, Sue stepped down, the Board of Directors selected Scott Mikesh as her successor.

In 2015, thanks to the support of many wonderful volunteers, sponsors and community partners, Art Buddies expanded again to its first school in St. Paul.

In April of 2018, Heidi Rich, an arts educator and community organizer, was elected by the Board of Directors as the new President & Executive Director of Art Buddies. Heidi is focused on creating a joyful, child-centered program. Bringing the Art Buddies’ mission of building dreams and raising self esteem to the schools, community, families, and most of all the children we serve. Heidi has expanded the program to even more schools. Under her direction we have added Penpal Program, Saturday Programs and Community Outreach.

When the Covid crisis hit Art Buddies adapted, again! As children in the highest need areas of our metro area were quarantined to shelters or their homes Art Buddies brought over 20,000 Art Buddies Activity Kits to our community shelters, encampments, food banks, and schools.

As the Covid crisis continued the Fall Semester 2020, our scholars attended school through distance learning. This meant no in-person programming, but that didn’t stop Art Buddies! We offered Art Buddies Penpals! We were Snailmail Superheros to hundreds of our little buddies! It is still an important program to let our schools and scholars know we care.

With your continued support, Art Buddies will continue to empower hundreds of kids each year through the power of creative mentoring!