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AMACO.com May E-News
Bottles of Hope!
AMACO (American Art Clay Company) hosted a "Bottles of Hope" Designers Challenge to promote cancer prevention awareness. Craft designers from all over the United States contributed creative clay-covered bottles for the charitable competition. HomeArts' Editor, Julie Stephani, served as one of the judges.


There were 39 contributing designers submitting 80 entries. The winners are Anne Igou, Dotty McMillan, Scott Misevitz and Helen Bradley. AMACO also recognized Deborah Anderson, Designer's Choice Honorable Mention. AMACO has made a contribution in the name of every entrant to the American Cancer Society.

Bottles of Hope was started in 1999 by cancer survivor Diane Gregoire as a way to bring hope and cheer to others with cancer. A plymer clay artist, Diane used her own designs to cover empty (sanitized) medication bottles that were being disposed of during her chemotherapy treatments. The decorated bottles she returned to nurses were given as gifts to other cancer patients. The bottles were so well received that she began a program so cancer patients could create their own bottles. Since then, numerous Bottles of Hope programs have sprung up throughout the country with some helping to raise funds for cancer research and treatment. AMACO is currently sponsoring another challenge with the winners announced in July. See details at www.amaco.com.

Contributing Editor's Note: There's more to this story. HomeArts Editor, Julie Stephani, learned about this charitable activity from polymer clay artist Lisa Pavelka, who asked Julie to judge the AMACO competition. What Lisa didn't realize is that Julie and Bill Stephani's son Jeff was battling cancer. When Lisa learned about Jeff's illness, she presented Julie with a beautiful Bottle of Hope for Jeff that she had made. It is another example of creativity making memorable moments and helping people support each other through life's challenging times.

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