Sheltering Arms Honoring More Than 50 Years of Service By Richmond Artistic Icons

(Richmond, Virginia) — The Junior Board of Sheltering Arms and the Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital is announcing the celebration of five decades of artwork produced by Richmond artistic icons Robert Watkins and deVeaux Riddick for Sheltering Arms’ longest-running and most successful annual fundraiser – the Bal du Bois.

Watkins and Riddick have been associated with the Bal du Bois since 1956, when they were approached in their small modern design store by a member of the Sheltering Arms Junior Board. At the time they were asked if they could wrap up their passion, pizzazz, and panache for the theatrical into a backdrop for a fundraiser for Sheltering Arms Hospitals. They agreed, and have contributed their artistic talents creating “sets” for the event every year since, including their masterpiece for the 2010 Bal du Bois held earlier this year.

Sheltering Arms is celebrating Watkins and Riddick by displaying renderings of their Bal du Bois works over the decades at the Sheltering Arms Hospital at Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County. These renderings will be dedicated at a ceremony to be held at noon on Thursday, October 14 (8254 Atlee Rd in Mechanicsville). The renderings will be displayed permanently.

“The display of these works is in honor of the generosity and years of service by Robert and deVeaux to Sheltering Arms,” said James E. Sok, Sheltering Arms President and Chief Executive Officer. “Sheltering Arms appreciates the uniqueness that their aristic talents have brought to this important fundraiser.”

The Bal du Bois, or “Woodland Ball”, began in June of 1957. In that first year, the social event raised $8,500 for Sheltering Arms. By 2000, proceeds to the hospital from the event reached $100,000 annually. Funds raised from the Bal Du Bois help pay for medical care and provide financial assistance for patients who have suffered setbacks from illness and injury.

About Sheltering Arms Hospitals

Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services. To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and nine outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB, or connect with Sheltering Arms on Facebook or Twitter.

###