The Lacey Jarrell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit I founded in 2007 in memory of my daughter, Lacey Jarrell. Tragically, Lacey lost her life at the age of 16 in a rollover car accident in Tucson. There were no drugs involved, no alcohol, not even another vehicle. The sky was cloudless that July morning in 2006. The accident occurred on a curvy downhill grade on River Road, close to our home. Reportedly, Lacey lost control of her car resulting in it rolling over multiple times. There was a passenger in the car. He walked away without even a scratch. Lacey did not.

There are no words to describe the shock and anguish of the next years. Early on, I struggled to accept she was really gone. How could there be life after Lacey? To keep her memory alive and turn my traumatic loss into something that could perhaps help another child or parent, I developed the Foundation to memorialize my precious child. The foundation honors Lacey’s attributes, and life goals, which in short, involved creativity through artistic expression and an unusual ability to help others and remain non-judgmental and selfless.

Lacey’s favorite color was green, and she defined stars as her “symbol.”. Too young for a tattoo, she drew green stars on her ankle and so the Foundation developed its logo and name to be Green Star Art.

Lacey and her brother Will, spent early childhood in the Vail Community. Living in the Rincon Valley approximately 15 years, my children attended Acacia Elementary School. In 2000, we moved to town, The Vail School District did not have a high school then. Despite moving, the loving support we received from the Vail Community after Lacey passed was astounding. I am forever grateful for this.

The foundation’s mission is to support student artists with optimal opportunity to achieve growth and development through adolescence and early adulthood by promoting education, creative experiences, and mentoring. We define art as any activity that involves expression of a natural and creative skill that gives aesthetic pleasure. This includes painting, drawing, dancing, music, photography, writing, designing, acting, web development and more.

The Lacey Jarrell Foundation|Green Star Art will resume holding its annual fundraiser and art exhibition supporting creative youth on March 5th, 2022, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Catalyst Collaborative Arts & Maker Space/SAACA in the Tucson Mall 4500 North Oracle Rd. Tucson, Az Suite 110.

The Foundation has released a call to creative students ages 13-21 who would like to exhibit artwork or perform their talent at the event. Any student participating is eligible to apply for financial support/scholarship funding. We have also issued a call to professional artists to exhibit up to three original artworks for sale at the event, with a percentage contributed to Green Star Art endeavors.

Contact Information

For more information visit www.greenstarart.org Or email: greenstarartlaceyjarrell@gmail.com.

About author View all posts

Guest Author