The foundation of a progressive community stems from the education and knowledge of its people. It is said that learned and knowledgeable individuals are capable of taking action and bringing forth meaningful changes to society. Nonprofit organization FACEPAINT Inc. aims to contribute to this cause by making educational books, films, and materials more accessible.
The organization champions two powerful causes—(1) endorsing social and cultural awareness through educational materials and (2) decreasing the high mortality rate of breast cancer because of late diagnosis.
Notably, FACEPAINT donates published young adult and children’s books to strategic locations, including schools, public libraries, Little Free Libraries, prison libraries, parent centers, and homeschooling parents. FACEPAINT also produces videos, films, and audiobooks for YouTube and publishes and distributes articles that are translated into multiple languages geared toward raising cancer awareness.
Two extraordinary personalities founded FACEPAINT with a united goal: Ken Yoffe, a pediatrician with a doctorate in genetics and Ellen Weisberg, a cancer researcher with a doctorate in pharmacology. Both are part-time children’s book authors. Between the two of them, they have created educational YA and children’s books published by several publishing houses and use these to promote the causes that FACEPAINT supports.
On the social awareness front, the organization uses Justin and the Werloobee, a 3D animated adaptation of their published children’s fantasy novel, Fruit of the Vine. The short film was made possible by the royalty money awarded to FACEPAINT’s founders for a leukemia therapy they developed. The theme of the animated short is in line with the group’s central advocacy and promotes altruism and bystander intervention in bullying situations. As of writing, it has been accepted for screening at 106 film festivals worldwide and has won awards at 42 festivals.
As for its advocacy towards cancer awareness, it utilizes Ellen Weisberg’s cancer memoir, From Both Sides, which was initially published in the webzine, Bewildering Stories. The memoir, which received the 2019 Mariner Award from the Bewildering Stories editorial team, chronicles a powerful story of one person’s journey with cancer from two different perspectives: that of the cancer researcher and the cancer patient. More impressively, it has been translated into multiple languages, including Portuguese, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, and French, and has been promoted and distributed to numerous countries as a way to raise cancer awareness.
What makes the institution stand out is its unique and engaging manner of sending its messages to the public through “homegrown” articles, books, videos, films, and audiobooks. Weisberg and Yoffe have donated >20,000 printed books, and provide free electronic versions of their published children’s geography books, including English/Hindi and English/Spanish mini-tutorials through their nonprofit website. The Ellen Weisberg YouTube channel has numerous playlists with different educational themes, as well as playlists featuring performances that are meant to entertain.
At present, the group has started production of their second 3D animated short, based on another one of their published children’s books, Full Moon. It depicts a story of sisterly love and, like their first short film, promotes selflessness and empathy.
Not only that, FACEPAINT has made impressive headway in making concrete solutions and is in the process of raising $50,000 in partnership with the NGO, ROKO Cancer Charitable Trust, for their Early Detection Camps in impoverished areas of India. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 surge in India, the project has experienced setbacks. However, the organization is steadfast in achieving its goal of 50 screening camps that cater to around 10,000 underserved citizens. FACEPAINT provided $1000 funding for the first camp in Punjab, which served around 170 people.
FACEPAINT plans to continue expanding to a broader audience and reach a global platform in the foreseeable future. Finally, it wishes to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations who can work with the group to further the causes it supports.
Learn more about FACEPAINT Inc. and its extraordinary advocacies through their official website and YouTube channel.
