Lisa Leroux-Smith and Bob McCaffrey set up for the Van Go Mobile Arts Float

A bird house waits for a bid during the Van Go Mobile Arts What

Van Go Mobile Arts Inc. drew a large crowd to Clinton Lake Marina on Saturday night for its annual “What Floats Your Boat” fundraiser – a display of colorful art.

Some of the group’s trademark mosaic benches, plus other outdoor furniture, were auctioned to help support the organization’s Jobs in the Art Makes Sense, or JAMS, program.

Special events manager Heather Hoy said in the past four years the group has progressively raised $10,000 and hoped to raise $45,000 this year.

Zayna Robles, 17, who has been involved with JAMS for four years, attributes the growing success to the benches that dot the city.

“I think more people are seeing the benches in the community and are interested in the program and donate more,” she said.

The fundraiser sponsored by Stevens and Brand LLP included a live auction, boat rides and dancing to musical guest $ellOut.

The JAMS program is a year-round job-training program for at-risk youth ages 14 to 21. Youth go to Van Go Mobile Arts, 715 N.J., after school or during the summer and create public works of art that are then sold.

The 18- to 21-year-olds participate in Life Jams, a program that offers seasonal off-site job placement.

Kandice Hall, 18, is working at the Spencer Museum of Art at Kansas University before she heads to the Kansas City Art Institute in the fall.

“I love it,” she said of the JAMS program. “You can express yourself and it’s something to do after school.”

Hoy said the positive reinforcement students receive at Van Go keep them coming back.

“For a lot of kids in school that are kind of accustomed to failing at a lot of things, this is an opportunity in our program to experience 100 percent success,” Hoy said. “We set the kids up to succeed in whatever art project it is that they do.”

Hoy said unique this year were three Lawrence Treasurer Packages up for auction. Each was designed for the father, mother or whole family.

“This is a great event to support a program that is filling a void in this community that no other program is doing,” Hoy said. “I really hope the community will come out and support this in the future because JAMS is important.”