Conscious Art Features Artists with Special Needs, 11/9

Anna's Angels, a North Carolina-based non-profit that supports Down syndrome research at Duke Children's Hospital, is pleased to announce its newest and most exciting event designed to showcase the art of individuals with special needs. Conscious Art will be held on November 9 from 6:30-10:30 pm at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art at Levine Center for the Arts, located at 420 South Tryon Street in Charlotte. The evening will include a gourmet dinner, entertainment, silent and live auction, raffle, and a display of magnificent artwork created by talented artists with special needs. The event is being organized by Anna's Angels Foundation. Anna's Angels Director Michelle Pfeiffer started Anna's Angels with her husband, Andrew Merrills, following the birth of their second daughter, Anna, who has Down syndrome. For Pfeiffer, holding an Anna's Angels event in Charlotte has been a longtime dream.

"We are thrilled to be holding our inaugural event in Charlotte in November," said Pfeiffer. "We have wanted to grow Anna's Angels, and the Mecklenburg area is a perfect community to help expand our efforts. A local Charlotte family that attends our annual Gala in Cary encouraged us to introduce Anna's Angels to the Charlotte area. We are excited to be here and look forward to sharing Anna's Angels with the community."

In addition to expanding into the Charlotte market with Conscious Art, Anna's Angels wants to bring awareness to the many talented artists with special needs.

"We know there are extraordinary artists with special needs who would love an opportunity to showcase their work," said Pfeiffer. "This will be their gallery to show the community their talents."

All proceeds from the event go directly to Anna's Angels which funds Down syndrome research at Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center. Over the past 10 years, Anna's Angels has raised more than $1 million for Down syndrome research at Duke by holding a number of fundraising events, including an annual gala and fashion show. This year's gala, which was held in March, featured FOX television's Glee star, Lauren Potter, who has Down syndrome.

For more information on Conscious Art or event sponsorship opportunities, donating to the auction or submitting an art piece, please visit Anna's Angels at annas-angels.org.

About Anna's Angels Foundation
Anna's Angels was founded in 2003 by Andrew Merrills and Michelle Pfeiffer, on behalf of their daughter, who was born with Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality which occurs in one of approximately 733 live births. Anna was also diagnosed in 2002 with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a type of cancer that is more prevalent in people with Down syndrome. Anna's Angels works in partnership with Duke Children's Hospital to raise funds to promote laboratory and clinical research regarding Down syndrome. The vision of Anna's Angels is to improve the cognitive and communicative ability of individuals with Down syndrome while giving them the ability to reach their full potential. For more information, contact Anna's Angels at annas-angels.org or call 919-604-3350.

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