Susan Kopecky ~ Fine Art Photography

                 Susan Kopecky
                           ~ Traditional Film Photography on
                       Handmade Fiber Base, Silver Gelatin Prints ~

ph: (515) 669-7456
email: kopecky-photo@hotmail.com

   Updates
        News

    Galleries
        2008
       2007
        2006
        2005
        2004
        2003
        2002
        2001
        2000
        Grandmother's Negatives

   About the Artist
        Biography
        Statement
        Techniques

   Print Information
   Exhibitions
   Tear Sheets
   Charity Donations
   Links
    Photography Tips

Charitable Donations & Email Stories

A minimum of 20% (often times, more) of the proceeds from the print titled "Malignancy" are being donated, in the form of stuffed animals, to patients at the Children's Hospital of Iowa, in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa. On this page you will be able to read stories sent to me via email by Kathy, the Child Life Specialist responsible for distributing those stuffed animals. I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to those of you who have contributed to this donation by purchasing a print. Watch for new stories about the positive effects the stuffed animals are having on these children's lives. I will continue to update this page as I receive more emails from Kathy. The stories that follow clearly show that with a little effort, we can provide some much needed emotional support to children who are fighting the biggest battles of their lives.

Update: February 2006: A "Malignancy" print was donated to ARTMA (http://www.artmaonline.org), an art auction fundraiser for children's brain cancer research in Denver, Colorado. Once again, the auction raised over $100,000 for cancer research. "Malignancy" bid up to, and sold, for $240.

Update: February 2004: A "Malignancy" print was donated to ARTMA (http://www.artmaonline.org), an art auction fundraiser for children's brain cancer research in Denver, Colorado. The auction raised over $100,000 for cancer research. "Malignancy" bid up to, and sold, for $825.

Sincere thanks to those who have purchased a "Malignancy" print.

My first delivery of stuffed animals to the Children's Hospital of Iowa. The following is an example of the positive effects had by two of the patients.....

Susan,
Thank you for the information and for everything...I was excited to tell you this story: I passed out the bears to the patients on 3JCW right after I left you. Later in the day, I encountered one of our patients, a one year old with a brain tumor and she was riding in the stroller clutching the bear..... Later she was still holding him and mom said that the bear went to audiology! Also, a six year old girl with leukemia in isolation was thrilled to receive the bear. She named him "Stitch" and her mom told me later that she actually told her to take the stuffed kitty OFF of her Christmas wish list because she now had "Stitch" - her bear!! Can you see why I love my job so much??!! Thanks again, Susan!

Kathy

Another email from Kathy to share with you....

Susan,
I am including portions of a note written by a mother of an oncology patient who is now age 3 and was here to get scans that were clean since he finished chemotherapy over a year ago!

Dear Kathy et al,
Thanks so much for giving our son the adorable teddy bear last week. He has named it "Bird". He really loves Bird. He keeps it on his bed while he's falling asleep and after about five minutes says, "Well, that's enough of that!" and sends it "flying" across the room! Thanks for bringing a smile to our will little guy's face.