LJWorld.com

If you're trying to paint your income picture in the best light for tax purposes, Van Go Mobile Arts has a suggestion.

"Think of Van Go for your year-end charitable donation," said Susan Tate, co-chairwoman of a capital campaign for the arts-based social service agency in eastern Lawrence.

"This organization is changing the lives of teenagers in Lawrence and Douglas County," Tate said.

Van Go is in the middle of its $1.3 million Building Futures Campaign, which has gone toward buying and renovating its facility at 715 N.J.

"We've raised over $1.2 million and we have $60,000 left to go," Tate said. "Thanks to the Mabee Foundation, our dollars have been doubled here in town."

All pledges that are received before Jan. 10 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $170,000, from a "challenge grant" from the Mabee Foundation, a philanthropic foundation based in Tulsa, Okla.

Although the Mabee Foundation has provided the matching grant, almost all of the money has come from Douglas County from individuals and organizations, Tate said.

"The dollars people donate to Van Go are personally beneficial on their income taxes and they are doubled by the Mabee Foundation," she said. "Your money goes a long way because of the Mabee Foundation, as well as the tax deduction."

More than 300 donors from Douglas County have helped raise money for Van Go, she said.

Van Go, which has been in operation since 1999, provides after-school job training and support services to about 100 teens a year, using art projects as a vehicle.

Special to the Journal-World

This image and architectural plan, prepared by Lawrence architect Dan Rockhill, depicts a renovation to the Van Go Mobile Arts building, a 12,000-square-foot building at 715 N.J.

"We call it an art-based program, not an art program," Tate said. "It's really a vocational training program."

That program, called Jobs in the Arts Makes Sense, or JAMS, provides those ages 14 to 21 with a job to make public works of art.

"And people will recognize the newspaper dispensers around town as a project that Van Go students have worked on," Tate said.

Another recognizable project is the Benchmark program, which creates benches that are purchased by Van Go supporters. About 146 benches are on display in public places.

"Also, Van Go students do commissioned work," Tate said. Amarr Garage Doors, 3800 Greenway Circle, has commissioned a mural from Van Go, she said.

"What Van Go is moving toward is becoming more self-sustaining," Tate said. "The students come to Van Go, they are trained by artists to do this vocational and artistic work, which is then purchased mostly locally, which will help the organization itself to become more self-sustaining."

Those in the program learn such basic "soft" job skills as showing up on time, how to behave at work and how to dress, she said.

They also learn life skills lessons, such as the importance of saving money, and learn about nutrition and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The project is supported by the Kansas Department of Commerce's Community Development Division.

Van Go rented its building for a number of years before it raised enough funds two years ago to purchase half of the building. The other half of the building was donated by the Duane Schwada family.

About 4,000 square feet of the 12,000-square-foot building is being used, Tate said. The plan is to expand into the rest of the building after a renovation, which will begin in April.

"Once the building is open, we will have a full-time gallery," she said. "The gallery will help the agency become more self-sufficient."