A Night to Remember: Celebrating Creativity & Community at OBJECT:ART 2026

The room was vibrant, the energy was electric, and the creativity was inspiring. Thank you to everyone who joined us for OBJECT:ART 2026! It was truly a powerful evening of community, reflection, and, most importantly, coming together to support the future of art education.

Fueling the Future of Art in Action

We are thrilled to share that, thanks to your overwhelming generosity, we achieved 100% of our fundraising goal! This incredible support directly fuels our mission to bring high-quality art education to more students, sparking the imagination of the next generation of creatives. Thank you for being champions of creativity!

The Evening’s Heartbeat: Highlights and Inspiration

The night was packed with moments that reminded us why we are so passionate about our work. It was a beautiful, and sometimes emotional, a tapestry of student achievement and community connection.

Here are some of the standout moments from OBJECT:ART 2026:

In Memory of Karen Canty:

We opened the evening with a heartfelt tribute to Karen Canty. We were deeply moved to have Karen’s husband, Ed Canty, join us for the occasion. In a truly touching moment of philanthropy, Ed made a generous donation in Karen’s honor, ensuring her passion for art education continues to reach students for years to come.

Voices of Experience:

We were inspired by the stories shared by Art in Action alumni Emily Ma and Avery Yang. Hearing how the program helped shape their journeys—and how they now want to expand access to art for other young people—was a powerful reminder of art’s lasting impact. Their experiences reflect how creativity can stay with students for life and continue to ripple outward into their communities.

The "Wow" Factor:

The youngest star of the evening was undoubtedly 9-year-old artist and philanthropist Juliette Leong. Already recognized on TED stages, at Carnegie Hall, and for raising more than $20,000 for charity through her artwork, Juliette captivated the room—not only with her remarkable talent, but with her extraordinary generosity in donating one of her own pieces to our live auction. She was a powerful reminder that creativity, compassion, and leadership can shine at any age.

A Peek Inside the Classroom:

Guests got an exclusive look at the future of our curriculum, including previews of our new Beyond The Canvas afterschool lessons and a full 4th-grade Artbox on display. It was a vivid reminder that every gift helps place real art materials—and real creative opportunities—into the hands of students.

A Standing Ovation for the 2026 Visionary Award Recipients: Denise and Woody Shackleton

One of the evening’s most meaningful moments was honoring Denise and Woody Shackleton with the 2026 Visionary Award. Art in Action was proud to celebrate their extraordinary commitment to expanding access to high-quality arts education for children.

Their impact on our organization reaches far beyond philanthropy. They have been trusted partners in Art in Action’s growth—helping guide us through key leadership transitions, shaping important strategic decisions, funding scholarships for local schools, and even rolling up their sleeves to test new lessons. In one of the most heartfelt examples of their dedication, Denise continues to teach our program at her grandchildren’s schools in San Carlos and Menlo-Atherton.

Denise and granddaughter at an Art in Action lesson.

Thank you, Denise and Woody, for your visionary leadership, generosity, and unwavering belief in the power of art. Because of your commitment, creativity will continue to shine brightly for generations of students to come.

The Journey Continues

OBJECT:ART 2026 may be over, but the work—and the excitement—continues!!

See the Impact Live at Our Community Art Show

Want to see the direct result of your support? Come witness student creativity come to life at our Community Art Show at the Foster City Library on Sunday April 26, 2026, from 1-4 PM.

Thank you once again to our attendees, sponsors, in-kind donors, volunteers, alums, and speakers for making OBJECT:ART 2026 a monumental success. Together, we are painting a brighter future, one student at a time.