The Franklin Foundation recently held the “5th World Autism Awareness Day” youth painting exhibition and film screening at the Nixon Presidential Library. This year marked the highest attendance in the foundation’s history for participation in art exhibitions and performances.
Founder Jane He stated that over the years, the foundation has been advocating for attention to the autism community, receiving strong support from the Chinese community. The Nixon Presidential Library not only provided free space for the exhibition but also invited many elected officials to support the event, which is the greatest affirmation of the foundation’s work.
Jane He mentioned that since 2024, the foundation has established the Newbridge Social Recreational Center to train children who face social difficulties. The center has already begun its work, and some children have shown significant progress in social skills through training
Director Aoi Nakayama of the foundation stated that this exhibition featured over 200 artworks from 135 artists and involved over 80 volunteers. Among them, 33 autistic children participated in the exhibition, showcasing diverse and imaginative works. It is gratifying that Sylvia Burnstein, an autistic artist whose works were filmed by the foundation, signed a contract with the American gallery Artlefting two years ago, and her works have not only been sold to Bank of America but also recently signed a contract with the backpack brand JanSport as a brand designer. These achievements demonstrate that autistic children are not a burden to society but individuals capable of creating value for society.
Co-founder and director John Qu of the foundation mentioned that the three documentary films produced by the foundation depicting the lives of autistic children and their families have received significant attention in the community. The latest documentary, “Flying to the Blue Sky,” portrays the real-life of the first autistic child in the United States who can fly an airplane, revealing the rich world of autistic children that many people may not understand.
Chinese philanthropist Charlie Zhang, who is also an advisor to the foundation, expressed his hope that through such activities, the community can understand the challenges faced by autistic children and their families, and he hopes that various sectors of society can provide assistance to them.
Some well-known artists in Los Angeles contributed their paintings for charity, with the proceeds donated to the Franklin Foundation. Additionally, musicians performed with the children. In this exhibition, the artworks by Southern California artists and children raised nearly ten thousand dollars through auction, which will be used to help autistic children and their families.
