Painting Fundraiser Held To Benefit Moore School District

Support is continuing to pour out for the many affected by last month's tornadoes. On Saturday night, dozens painted as a part of a fundraiser to help Moore public schools.

It's not your typical fundraiser. Participants of the "I Heart Oklahoma" paint party created some beautiful paintings at Catering Creations in Norman; all for a worthy cause.

With each stroke of color, everyday people put their paint brushes to the test.

"Actually I've never painted really. I like to draw with a pen and pad, and everything, so painting's a new thing for me," said Ricardo Torres.

A group met at Catering Creations in Norman for the I Heart Oklahoma paint party. It's a creative fundraiser to support Moore Public Schools.

"The need is overwhelming, not just school supplies but also so many families lost their homes, so many teachers lost their homes, and several of my coworkers lost their homes," said party organizer, Keri Lepley.

Lepley is an art teacher in Moore who put the paint party together. She also attended Plaza Towers and Briarwood Elementary Schools which were both destroyed on May 20. Lepley hopes to raise enough money from this event to plan an even bigger one for Moore schools.

"It'll be a paint party that's open to the Moore public schools and their friends and family and it's to support the fine arts department," said Lepley.

"It's been really fun. It really makes me feel like being proud to be an Oklahoman and I've lived here my whole life and this is just something that is so wonderful," said Patty Wilkerson.

Lepley's group ‘Practically Picasso' helped put the event together. She says they're thinking about having their big paint party fundraiser at Southmoore High School on Aug. 1.