IKF Latin American Art Auction 2007, a Huge Success

More than 100 contemporary Latin American artists donated pieces to this prestigious auction

MIAMI, FL—November 15, 2007—International Kids Fund (IKF) Latin American Art Auction 2007 is known in the art world as “The Collector’s Auction,” because of the caliber of art featured. Collectors from all over the world came to CIFO (Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation) in Miami where the auction was held to be part of the excitement and bid on the outstanding pieces by Latin American artists.

But what really made this auction unique is that it benefited a charity. The IKF Latin American Art Auction 2007 was the signature fundraising event for the International Kids Fund, a philanthropic program of Jackson Memorial Foundation, created to facilitate access to life saving or life changing medical care for children in need, at Holtz Children’s Hospital. “This event,” says Rosy Cancela, event chair, for the last three years and one of the founders of the auction, “makes history because it links the arts and the medical philanthropic worlds, a concept that has never been explored to such an extent, in Miami. Bottom line, the money that we raise directly helps to save lives of sick children. Everyone who purchases art leaves the event not only with a beautiful work of art but a warm feeling in their hearts. What can be better than that?”

Rolando Rodriguez, President and CEO of Jackson Memorial Foundation, sings the praises of this event, as well. “The IKF auction has uniquely mobilized the entire world of art to help children in need from all over the world. It has enlisted the creative spirit of artists to provide the means to raise critically needed dollars. And through the arts, we have touched the many collectors who have never learned of an opportunity to combine their passion for art with a cause that means so much to all of us.”

Award winning photographer and host of the Emmy award-winning TV show Art 360 on WPBT, Channel 2, Robin Hill, volunteered his services as auctioneer for the live auction. One of the more exciting pieces auctioned off by Hill was a major piece of art donated by legendary Cuban painter Cundo Bermudez. And during the live auction, for the first time in its three-year-history, the IKF Latin American Art Auction 2007, auctioned off a “real living piece of art.” The unique auction item was Arvindra Ramoutar, an 11-year-old boy from Trinidad, who has a condition called portal hypertension. A specialized team of physicians at Holtz Children’s Hospital can correct this condition surgically. At the live auction, guests bid on the cost of his life-saving surgery, the after-care, and room and board for him and a parent. Winning bidders did not go home with this purchase, but did leave with the satisfied feeling that they were helping to pay for the medical treatment for one of IKF’s sponsored kids

In addition to the silent and live auctions, there was a Collector’s Corner where collectors donated major pieces of art to be sold. “Many collectors go in a different direction after a time or they simply don’t have room to hang everything they have purchased,” says Fred Snitzer a gallery owner and one of the leaders of the art world in South Florida, who serves on the host committee of the auction. “This gave them a chance to donate those pieces to the IKF Art Auction and know that they will grace someone else’s home and raise money for a wonderful cause.”

This year the auction joined forces with the New World School of the Arts in Miami to create a competition for ten college students in the Visual Arts Department. The contest was coordinated by Maggy Cuesta, Dean of Visual Arts at the New World School of the Arts. The students’ works of art were judged by Bonnie Clearwater, Executive Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA), at a reception at the Sagamore Hotel, and the top three winners received cash prizes sponsored by Jackson Memorial Foundation. In addition, their artwork was sold at the auction.

In addition to American Prime Group, some of the most prestigious companies in Miami lent their support to this cause. Other sponsors for the auction included: FedEx; Schwab; Visa International; Turner Construction; ProMed Personnel Services; Omega Security; and Regions Bank.

About International Kids Fund

(IKF)International Kids Fund (IKF), a program of Jackson Memorial Foundation, seeks to facilitate access to life saving or life changing medical care for children in need. This includes international children who cannot be treated within their native country, as well as children living in the United States who, without IKF assistance, would otherwise have no options. The fund ensures these children receive the best care possible at Holtz Children’s Hospital of the University Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, one of the nation’s premier teaching hospitals. For more information or to make a contribution, please visit www.internationalkidsfund.org or call 1-877-IKF-KIDS.