Save A Child Artist In Action
Honouring a Legacy, Saving Young Lives

 

The Save A Child Artist's mission was born from profound loss and boundless love. Its founder, the celebrated poet, painter, and music composer E. Laurence Bake, was forever changed by the tragic loss of his young, gifted artist grandson, Elijah Bake—one of the rising number of creative youth lost to despair across North America in recent times.

 

Driven by his understanding of the challenges facing young artists in today's world, and a fierce determination to help prevent such tragedies, Laurence established The SAVE A CHILD ARTIST mission as the ACTION PROGRAM DIVISION of the Poet's Foundation, the nonprofit dedicated to supporting creative children worldwide. In a world filled with good people these kids should not be struggling, trying to stay true to their artistic dreams and self expression, against the odds alone. 

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To fuel the Foundation's vital mission, Laurence donated his life’s work—an extraordinary collection of poetic art spanning more than 50 years. The first treasure offered to the Foundation’s community was the iconic “painted poem” titled TRUST, many more will follow.

 

Foundation Administrator and IT Director Ann Anderson is finishing a complete gallery of these valuable works of art (paintings, books, poems, music albums etc.) as gifts to donors and supporters helping to aid the foundation's mission. 

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Laurence's believes that self expression for a child is essential to that child's happiness. He believes that "creativity" inspires us to imagine brighter futures. So he chose characters from one of his books, "Princess Mayya," and the Poet Prince "Magister," to help raise awareness, and address the needs of highly creative children at risk. They are magical characters who bring a sense of storytelling and charm to a very serious subject. 

 

The TRUST poem shared on this website was created in 1982 as an exquisite scroll for a select circle of Laurence's private collectors, the poem traveled the world, adorning walls and touching hearts on every continent. Now, some 40 years later, republished (by Princess Mayya as a gift) for the foundation community exclusively, it is traveling the world again. Now TRUST and your support are turning a little piece of poetic art into real action—helping young creators find hope, healing, and a future. They in turn will share their magical imaginations with the world. 

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