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Loading...Eleven Year-Old’s Drawings Raise $175,000 For Gulf Coast Birds
Lots of people felt desperate when they heard about the devastation of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Few of them were able to channel that feeling into motivation to act like Olivia Bouler.
The 11 year-old spent a lot of time near the Gulf growing up, watching birds near her grandparents’ home in Alabama, and was troubled by the photos of oil-soaked pelicans and other seabirds she saw in the media.
“I just wanted to help out,” Olivia Bouler told the Huffington Post. “So I came up with this idea.”
She immediately wrote a letter to the Audobon society offering her humble services:
Dear Audubon Society:
As you all are aware of, the oil spill in the Gulf is devistating (sic). My mom has already donated a lot of money to help, but I have an idea that may also help. I am a decent drawer, and I was wondering if I could sell some bird paintings and give the profits to your organization.
Bouler would eventually create 500 original drawings of birds, and anyone who donated money to the wildlife recovery efforts in the Gulf would get one.
To her family’s surprise, the drawings sold out within three weeks. Soon, Olivia had to switch to prints.
Since that time, Bouler’s efforts have raised over $175,000 for new wildlife center at Moss Point, and earned her the title of 2010′s Kid of the Year by the ASPCA. To date, she has drawn over 100 different species of birds and created over 500 paintings for her Save the Gulf campaign.
Encouraged by the demand for her work, the young artist wrote a book, Olivia’s Birds, which provides unique introduction to backyard and endangered birds, features her hand-drawn illustrations, bird facts, and full-color photos celebrating the campaign.
Proceeds from the book support Audubon’s conservation mission, including Gulf Coast cleanup efforts.
Related Reading:
Teenager Starts Non-Profit For Animal Victims Of Gulf Oil Spill
9 Year-Old Wins Award For Work In Sustainable Packaging
Berkeley Students Crowdsource Clean Water
OMG! Siblings Create Non-Profit To Protect Endangered Animals
Read more: birds, Children, drawing, environment & wildlife, gulf coast, ocean, oil spill, pelicans, recovery, restoration
Image Credit: Audubon Society and Olivia Bouler
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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68 comments
+ add your ownLovely story - well done young lady
Wow, that's cool! Well done to her!
What a fantastic young girl. Thank you so very much.
I am humbled.
Wow! This little girl is going to be an amazing woman someday! Way to go.
What a brilliant girl.
Wonderful idea.
bravo Olivia, thanks for sharing this wonderful article.
Good for her. I'm glad that some people in the new generation care about animals. :)
How wonderful! A girl like me! I am big bird lover - I can't even look at those oil covered bird pictures anymore. It is nice to hear some good news on this disaster for a change!
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