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 the life and legacy of 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 "Wowed" Factor:
The youngest star of the evening was undoubtedly 9-year-old artist and philanthropist Juliette Leong. Juliette not only attended but wowed the crowd by generously donating her own artwork for our live auction, reminding us that creativity and generosity know no age.
A Peek Inside the Classroom:
Guests were also treated to an exclusive look at the future of our curriculum. We offered sneak peeks of our new Beyond The Canvas afterschool lesson line and showcased an entire ArtBOX designed for a 4th-grade class—demonstrating exactly how your support helps put brushes, paints, and supplies in the hands of students.
A Standing Ovation for the 2026 Visionary Award Recipients: Denise and Woody Shackleton
One of the most profound moments of the evening was honoring Denise and Woody Shackleton with our 2026 Visionary Award.
Art in Action is thrilled to honor Denise and Woody for their long-standing commitment to bringing quality art education to school-aged children. However, as our Executive Director noted in the presentation, their impact on our organization goes far beyond financial support.
They have been essential partners in our growth, helping guide Art in Action through critical leadership transitions and advising on key strategies. They have funded scholarships for local schools and actively participated in the creative process by testing new lessons. Demonstrating her true hands-on passion, Denise continues to teach our program at her grandchildren’s schools in San Carlos and Menlo Atherton.
Thank you, Denise and Woody, for your extraordinary dedication to Art in Action and the countless students we serve. Your visionary commitment ensures that the light of creativity burns brightly for years 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.
