Jazzy Benefit * Free Admission

Come one. Come all. A Feast of Gems and other Objet d’Art
Wine * Hors d’oeuvres* Delightful people

Guilford’s Barbara Shulman-Kirwin of Chroma Gallery
Hosts
Benefit for Faraha Mitima -- Congo Refugee
30% of sales Allocated to Mitima’s College Fund

When: Sunday July 17th 4pm-7pm
Where: Chroma Gallery 20 Church St - Guilford, CT www.bskdesign.net
Contact: Lynn Haney
203-458-2604
lynnthaney@gmail.com

Barbara Shulman-Kirwin, renowned glass fusion artist, will be hosting a reception at her gallery for Albertus Magnus college student Faraha Mitima (“Mimi” to her friends and family). Shulman-Kirwin designs colorful dichroic glass jewelry which are affordable and unique. She also creates a line of contemporary fused glass plates, platters, bowls and architectural installations.

One common thread woven in Shulman-Kirwin’s business fabric is her philanthropic mission to hold various fundraising events, in order to help educate the community about some of the many global needs and realities. “We live in such a comfortable, secluded area,” says Barbara, “that we often forget about the difficult realities of so many in this world.”

Mimi Mitima, 20-years-old, is from Kinshasa in the war-ravaged Republic of Congo. She was forced to flee the country when rebels set out to kill her father, an engineer, who was educating villagers on how to sanitize water. Reflects Mimi: “Growing up with a courageous father has taught me a lot about taking risks and making stands. As the eldest child in a large family (now 7 children), Mimi served as a babysitter to her siblings when the family immigrated to the United States and her mother worked nights as a cleaning woman at the Shelton Community Center. Mimi’s parents are divorced and her father is presently volunteering in Haiti sanitizing water.

Despite daunting obstacles (Sent to four high schools in four years), Mimi has made the Dean’s List at Albertus Magnus College with a GPA of 3.5. In order to return to college at the end of the summer, this plucky student needs to raise funds to fill the shortfall left after her scholarship/loan financial aid from Albertus for her tuition, room and board.

Like Barbara, Mimi is committed to hard work. She held a job at the Albertus Magnus Admissions office for which she received a rave job performance assessment – and has been offered the position for next year. Additionally, she works as a tour guide for the college representing the face of Albertus Magnus for prospective students and their parents. This summer she is employed by Bishop’s Orchard in Guilford. Her career goal is to become a social worker and help other struggling people. Says Mimi: “The opportunities I’ve been given are wonderful. I’ve been so blessed.”

Barbara Shulman-Kirwin is famous along the Ct Shoreline for her distinctive jewelry, but as you will see at the reception, she excels in many design areas – with an eye to helping impoverished people on a global basis. Barbara:
• Sells textiles from India (100% of the money goes to India), to help her mother-in law raise money for a small poor village in that country, where they have brought in enough cash to pay for two schools, of which there were none.
• Sells handbags from Guatemala, donating 50% of the price to a village orphanage.
• Sells a line of belts and handbags to help women in Brazil make enough money so that they can move out of the dumps where they live and into homes.

Drop by Chroma. Pick up a bauble or a fused glass plate. Hoist a glass to Mimi and listen to her exciting adventures.

If you can’t make it to Chroma on the 17th, but would like to contribute to Mimi’s college fund: Send a check made out to Faraha Mitima, % Elaine Fitzpatrick, 80 Lower Road, Guilford, Ct 06437