Superb Prizes Donated for 2010 Drawing

Don't let the light go out! Let it shine through our love and our tears.

~ From Light One Candle
   by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary

Blessings

Only a few days after the 2009 Drawing, New Jersey member Anne Marie DeMasi wrote the Foundation, "I belong to the Society of Scribes, which is a group of artists and calligraphers. If you ever have the need for a raffle prize or a quote with some artwork, please let me know."

Wow, what an offer! Over the years, Galatians 6:9 has been one of VPF members' favorite quotes. Now, one lucky person can win this elegantly framed, gorgeous calligraphy of inspirational words from the New Testament that have given so many Foundation members tenacity and hope.

Anne Marie says she titled the piece Blessings to emphasize the result of not giving up when tired and discouraged. She used a letter style known as modern uncial, a playful variation on a thirteenth-fourteenth century script, when only upper case letters were used. The scripture is penned on an 11- by 14-inch piece of handmade Indian bugra paper, and matted within a 16- by 20-inch black and gold wood frame.

Anne Marie chose walnut ink for the scripture, and used earth tones throughout the paper, mat, and inks to represent harvest. She mixed gold, iridescent jade, and vermilion inks with the walnut ink in the title; and used muted crimson and green ink in the decorative vine.

This devoted, hardworking professional kindergarten teacher is all heart. She said that her time of being pain free has been like "having a vacation full time!!" She wants the VPF to thrive and keep giving vacations to millions more like her.

Paderno Classic Cookware

During spring 2009, VPF Director Joanne Yount went on a long-wished-for vacation to Prince Edward Island, Canada. She stayed in Charlottetown, a lovely seaport town that was the first capital of Canada.

She said, "On the trip I met lots of Canadians. Their understated, quiet politeness and slower pace of life reminded me of my home town in the fifties. It made me think about our members in Canada. Since 1993 several hundred Canadians have joined the Foundation, but only one from P.E.I."

Toward the end of her stay, Joanne went to the Paderno Factory Outlet on the outskirts of Charlottetown. Not only did she find the quality of the cookware to be high, it was made in Canada, actually right there in Charlottetown. Joanne observed that "Paderno is not well known in the United States, but Canadians adore it; and so do I, now that I have some!"

She purchased several pieces of Paderno Classic Cookware for herself and for the VPF's Drawing. She explained, "I want Canadians to feel that they are an integral part of our organization, because they are. Members throughout Canada have enjoyed solid recoveries for over a decade, and remind me each year when they renew their memberships."

Creation

Dr. Clive Solomons initially gave us a rich legacy of scientific research, rescue, and recovery. Now he has given us Art!

In 1986, after more than three decades of successfully directing research in academic settings, he retired from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and started an independent biomedical consulting firm. Even though he was optimistic about the future, he knew there would be many unknowns in this new venture.

Privately, he began to paint abstract subjects. Creation was an early work. He says that the wave in the painting represents energy, momentum, and forward movement. The colors he chose - dark browns and greens, mingled with vivid yellows and reds - represent fertile ground and sunshine.

Through his wife, Dr. Ruth Solomons, a clinical psychologist, Dr. Clive Solomons met one of his first clients. A mathematics instructor, mother, and wife, she had suffered with vulvodynia for four years.

His client had undergone nine surgeries, scalpel and laser, with nationally prestigious physicians. She had tried multiple rounds of drugs for vaginal yeast and bacterial infections; steroids, hormones, psychotherapy, and more. She was losing hope.

When she described her pain to Dr. Solomons, she used the word burning. He knew that oxalic acid in certain poisonous plants caused severe burning in the throat when eaten. Moreover, his research to date had included in-depth investigations of calcium metabolism and connective tissues.

He began his laboratory work by studying his client's urine for evidence of abnormal oxalate metabolism. From that early research, and the publication of her case study, flowed years of partnership with thousands of other research subjects through the VP Foundation; and the development of a series of effective therapies.

When research subjects from the VPF started pouring into Dr. Solomons' project in the early 1990s, Dr. Ruth Solomons joined her husband in his consulting business, assuming the administrative and financial management of the project, and more. She gave him the time he critically needed to think creatively, work in the laboratory, and interact with research subjects.

Reluctantly, Dr. Solomons retired in 2006, several years after a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. As he embraces the challenges of this next stage of life, his love of exercise is standing him in good stead. Ruth remains his mainstay.

In the meantime, Clive and Ruth want the VPF to remain viable, and to continue to alleviate suffering with the tools he gave us. Thus, their gift of Creation for the 2010 Drawing.

To honor Dr. Solomons, the Drawing will be held on his 79th birthday, June 6, 2010. Director Joanne Yount asks, "Please join me in honoring Dr. Solomons. I hope you will express your love and gratitude for him with an outpouring of support. He gave us his all. Let us give him ours."

To print tickets and send them to the Foundation with your check or money order, go to Tickets (PDF).