Actress Shanola Hampton of Shameless Supports The Art of Elysiumg

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9PULxmzsvw]

Shanola was soooo fun to talk with and to meet. I really love the show Shameless on Showtime and was excited to get to speak with her about one of her passions. – JW

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Shanola Hampton

From IMDB

Shanola Hampton was born May 27 in Long Island, NY, to a Car Salesman and an IRS agent.

She was raised in Summerville, South Carolina with her four sisters.

In college she earned a degree in Theater, with emphasis in Performance from Winthrop University along with a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from University of Illinois.

She moved to Los Angeles in 2001, and began appearing in commercials. Later, she made her first guest appearance in Ryan Murphy’s “Popular.” Her hobbies include, traveling back to South Carolina to spend time with family, Pilates, and swimming. Her hope is to one day open a Performing Arts School.

From Wikipedia

Hampton has appeared in several television series, such as: Reba, Popular, Scrubs, Related, and Miami Medical. She has also had roles in the movies: The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, The Hanged Man, and You Again.^[1]

She has face modeled for the videogame Left 4 Dead 2.^{[citation needed]}

She is a graduate of Winthrop University (with a degree in Theater), and also holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois.

Shameless

In Summer 2010, Hampton was cast as a series regular on the Showtime dramedy Shameless as Veronica Fisher, a role for which she has received critical acclaim. The second season premiered January 8, 2012, with Hampton remaining part of the main cast.^[2]

The Art of Elysium

MISSION

The Art of Elysium, a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1997, encourages working actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. We provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing.

VISION

The Art of Elysium is dedicated to enriching the lives of artists and critically ill children. We believe that there is a powerful and mutual exchange of hope and appreciation that occurs when artists share their time and talent with children battling serious medical conditions.

The lives of these children are largely filled with suffering, loneliness, fear and regimen. Artists have the unique ability to help children in need find a creative

voice and discover a sense of individuality and self-efficacy, even in the midst of overwhelmingly difficult circumstances.

In return, those same artists, who have been taken outside of their normal scope of work, are stretched and enriched in ways they never imagined.

Through this inimitable exchange between artist and child, the artist experiences the power of giving and the child experiences the power of their own artistic journey.

GOALS

• Create The Art of Elysium Center, a place where children can learn and artists can showcase their work. During the day, the center will be open for children in need to be taught acting, art processes, comedy and music. In the evening, the facility will be used for participating artists to present their creative work.

• Provide musical instruments, compact discs, videotape, art supplies and makeup for various pediatric facilities we serve.

• Fulfill special requests for medically challenged youth, including but not limited to providing individual, continuing lessons in the arts after discharge from the hospital.

• Now that The Art of Elysium has opened in New York, further expansion into additional cities such as Memphis and/or Nashville.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, JENNIFER HOWELL landed in Los Angeles shortly after graduating Emerson College with a B.S. in Mass Communications/Film Focus. It was Jennifer’s love for film making that brought her to Hollywood but it was her deeper love for children that led her to her mission: The Art Of Elysium.

In the middle of December 1996, Jennifer’s close friend, Stephen Hatten, was in the midst of one his worst bouts with the Leukemia he’d been diagnosed with years earlier.

Stephen shared with Jennifer the story of a young boy he had recently met at a treatment center.

A young boy who was by himself for the majority of his time spent there, on his own because both of his parents had jobs that they could not abandon.

Although one could interpret Stephen’s story as well, just a story, Jennifer heard his message loud and clear. And the message Jennifer heard was this: No child should ever be alone during treatment.

And so it was. Jennifer started by gathering some friends, getting clearance from the children’s hospital and bringing her world into their world.

With her Southern lilt and a spirit that was and is boundless, Jennifer and her friends brought the kids a respite from their reality, a little bit of laughter and a smile that found its form more quickly each time.

Jennifer’s friend Stephen passed away in 1998, but his story turned message turned mission has caught on. Along with her team, Jennifer’s The Art of Elysium continues to bring singers, artists, actors and writers into children’s hospitals and pediatric care facilities where they bring their talents, and of course their hearts, to the kids.

What was once Jennifer and a few friends is now a community of people who share the idea that no child should go through medical treatment alone.

Site: http://www.theartofelysium.org/
Twitter: @theartofelysium

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Thanks to GBK Events – Gavin and his great staff. As always you host the best.