When John Partusch, owner of Gloss Salon and Toxic Tins Social Media Gallery decided to host an “Evening of Special Needs and Special Help,” Oct. 24, he wanted to make a difference, but didn’t realize he had chosen National Make A Difference Day.
Partusch is sponsoring the benefit from 6 to 9 p.m. at his salon at 605 :Lake Ave., Asbury Park to raise funds and awareness for Best Day Foundation, the Valerie Fund’s Camp Happy Times and a Food Drive to help The Saint George Soup Kitchen feed residents in Asbury Park.
The event will include live painting and art show by Peter C. Nicolaou and John Lohse, Chinese auction with gift baskets, live music, food catered by MOGO in Asbury Park and beverages.
There is no admission fee, but donations for the Soup Kitchen, such as cans of vegetables, fruit and beans, along with rice and pasta are requested.
Those who attend can also bid on work created by Lohse and Nicolaou, an artist from Ocean Township. Nicolaou will not only be painting at the Gallery. His canvases will be donated surf boards, which will then be auctioned to raise funds and awarness for Best Day Foundation. Nicolaou will donate 100 percent of the funds raised from his artwork.
“I chose to paint on surf boards to help special needs chidren have a “fantastic day of surfing, beach activities and art on the beaches of the Jersey Shore,” he said, explaining that
he started painting after meeting Lohse at a networking event he attended while caring for his father who was battling cancer.
Lohse invited him to a BBQ, showed him a wide range of art he had made over a 25-year period and gifted him one of his paintings.
Grateful Nicolaou asked Lohse to come to his house to give his ailing father and some friends an art lesson, which became known as “Painting Day for Dad.”
Although Nicolaou was the last person to finish his drawing at the event, it has become his passion and turned into the fourth year of his art journey.
“I gave the gift of art to my Dad and I feel he gave the gift back tome to help others, as well as myself,” Nicolaou said.
Partusch invites the community to help Nicolaou continue his mission of helping others October 24. For more information call 732-775-2110.
