Overview: Turning Donations Into Direct Impact

For the third consecutive year, Pacific Art League provided a week-long free summer art camp for students with moderate to severe learning disabilities—thanks to the visionary support of PAL donors. The entire program was funded by proceeds from our 2024 Mini Art/Big Cause fundraiser, where community members purchased small works of art to support a big cause: arts access for underserved youth.

This initiative serves as a powerful case study in how grassroots giving and creative fundraising can directly fund inclusive education programs that change lives.

The Need: High-Quality Arts Access for Neurodivergent Youth

Our partner, AchieveKids, is a leader in special education with campuses in Palo Alto and San Jose. Students served by this school are navigating complex challenges and often have limited access to arts programming.

Student profile:

Ages: 5–22
Average age: 11.3
Disabilities served:
- Autism (55%)
- Emotional Disturbance (23%)
- Intellectual Disability (18%)
- Other Health Impairments (10%)
Ethnic demographics:
- Hispanic/Latino: 45%
- White: 20%
- Asian: 10%
- Black: 7%
- Pacific Islander: 5%
- Other: 9%

AchieveKids students receive daily wraparound services—from mental health to speech therapy—and PAL’s adaptive art instruction was designed to support these goals while offering a new channel for self-expression and joy.

The Program: Adaptive Art as a Pathway to Confidence

PAL’s team of teaching artists worked onsite, tailoring curriculum to match each classroom’s cognitive and physical abilities. Over the course of one week, students:

Explored color, shape, line, and texture
Created original artwork across multiple media
Shared their work on community art wall within their shool
Practiced focus, motor skills, and creative thinking
Found a safe space to express themselves through art

For some students, it was their first-ever experience with an art class. For others, it was a rare chance to lead. For all, it was a meaningful, confidence-building experience.

The Results: Student Growth and Systemic Impact

This year’s camp served:

111 students in 14 classrooms
Across 41 school districts

This program demonstrates how creative enrichment, when aligned with therapeutic support, can significantly enhance student engagement, emotional regulation, and classroom success.