MKAF celebrates Mental Health Month with a $10,000 boost for its life-changing arts education programs
By Zandra Wolfgram
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and for the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF), it’s a powerful reminder of how creativity and compassion intersect. Through its signature ArtsReach program, MKAF brings high-quality arts education directly to K-12 students, individuals with special needs, and veterans throughout Northwest Florida—offering not only artistic enrichment but also vital support for emotional and mental well-being.
This month, MKAF is proud to announce it has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the NextEra Energy Foundation, reinforcing the foundation’s mission to champion the arts for all.
According to NextEra Energy Foundation: “Providing support for the work you do aligns with our mission of building strong and sustainable communities and improving the lives of Northwest Florida residents through the power of opportunity, preservation and conservation, and promoting well-being.”
In addition, MKAF was awarded a $5,000 grant for art supplies from the Zentangle Foundation, a non-profit organization formed in 2015 to support individuals and groups interested in teaching the Zentangle Method through scholarships and outreach. This grant will enhance MKAF’s outreach to active duty military and veterans being served by MKAF’s Warrior Arts program.
For Melanie Moore, MKAF’s director of education and community engagement, the impact of this work goes far beyond the classroom or concert stage.
“This work is a calling,” Moore said. “These are the populations that don’t get to experience art in the same way others do. To bring magical moments to kids and adults of all abilities—is just the right thing to do. It’s the kind of impact that’s not always seen by the public, but it’s deeply felt by those who need it most.”
Art That Heals, Art That Connects
Through ArtsReach—MKAF’s dynamic community education initiative—thousands of participants annually gain access to transformative arts experiences they might not otherwise have. Whether it’s therapeutic Zentangle drawing, drumming alongside Zig from Hangs On with Zig, creating vibrant, large-scale murals with Zot Artz using adaptive art tools, or experiencing the joy and wonder of illusion with Kevin Spencer, a magician whose performances make more than just moments magical, or the power of live theater through Atlantic Coast Theatre performances—ArtsReach brings joy, connection, and creativity to school gyms, clinics, classrooms, and veteran centers across the region.
Moore has led ArtsReach for more than a decade, growing the program from just five experiences in 2015 to more than 150 annually. She partners with educators, therapists, artists, and community leaders to tailor programming that is inclusive and engaging, especially for those with physical, emotional, or cognitive barriers to traditional arts education.
Investing in Community Well-Being
The NextEra Energy Foundation grant comes at a time when the arts are increasingly recognized for their role in promoting mental wellness, resilience, and social-emotional development. MKAF’s ability to offer programs like Warrior Arts for veterans and Zentangle workshops for neurodiverse students is powered entirely by support from members, partners, and grantors.
“Each moment of creative expression is a step toward healing,” Moore said. “You see it in the eyes of the kids. You feel it when a veteran holds up a drawing they never thought they could create. That kind of transformation is hard to describe—it’s powerful.”
As MKAF prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary season in 2025–2026, its commitment to access and inclusion remains at the center of everything it does. ArtsReach exemplifies that commitment, proving time and again that the arts aren’t just enriching—they are essential.
Join Us—Be a Champion of the Arts
As Mental Health Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the importance of emotional and psychological well-being, MKAF invites the community to invest in programs that change lives.
Become a member. Make a donation. Help us Keep the Arts FUNded.
Visit mkaf.org or call (850) 650-2226 to support ArtsReach and help ensure that the transformative power of the arts continues to reach every corner of our community.
