I was recently contacted by a graphic designer who is working with a school district in South Carolina, wanting to know if they could use this image for an anti-bullying program they’re putting together.  It’s also being used by Kansas State University, the Research and Development Unit of Stockholm, and was on a playbill in London for an anti-bullying production. I’m always happy to donate my illustrations to a good cause- but bullies- get the message already!!

This ran in today’s paper:

DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE HOLIDAY CARD

Wednesday December 1, 2010

North Adams Transcript

NORTH ADAMS — Designing a special holiday card to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and its research to find a cure for cancer was an easy choice for local illustrator Jana Christy, who’s had two family members affected by the disease.

“My grandmother, Rose Arengi, died of cancer a few years ago, and my stepmother, Debbie Christy, is currently fighting an awesome fight with cancer. Having family members and friends affected by cancer leaves you feeling extremely helpless,” Christy said recently. “This was one tiny thing I thought I could do to help out an incredibly important institution.”

She was “more than happy” to participate in the holiday card program when approached by representatives from Dana-Farber about the project earlier this year, she said.

The card, “Family Sledding,” a whimsical winter scene of a family sledding together, is one of 12 different designs available to purchase from the holiday collection at www.jimmyfund.org/holiday.

Boxes of 20 cards and envelopes are available for $20 and can be personalized for an additional fee.

The inspiration for the card was culled from Christy’s own life.

“Dana Farber wanted a fun, family-oriented wintry image,” she said. “This painting was inspired by the times I’ve gone sledding with my kids — always a blast.”

The card is the third project she’s done in the past year to help raise funds for cancer research.

Christy recently illustrated the picture book, “You Are the Best Medicine,” which was written by “Baby Einstein” creator Julie Clark about her fight with cancer.

“It’s a really sweet story about a very sensitive subject — how to tell your child that you’ve been diagnosed with cancer,” she said. “A portion of the proceeds of that book are being donated to UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.”

The book was released in October, in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She also illustrated a book for Carnival Cruise lines, which was unveiled as a giant book in Rockefeller Center in New York City last November. A portion of the proceeds from the book went to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Christy began her career in independent comics in the 1990s, illustrating “Very Vicky,” which was written with her husband and co-collaborator John Mitchell. The couple has twin sons, Hugo and Harry.

Since moving on from comic books, her illustrations have appeared in Highlights Magazine, Highlights High Five, and Babybug Magazine.

She’s also illustrated a family travel memoir that Mitchell penned for the state, “Four Go Mad in Massachusetts,” and collaborated with him on the book, “Happy, Sad, Silly, Mad.” Her children’s book illustrations can also be found in: “In Your Dreams,” by Leslie Jonath; “The Smile That Went Around The World,” by Patrice Karst; “My Last Best Friend,” by Julie Bowe; “My New Best Friend,” by Julie Bowe; “Celebrate! Your Amazing Achievements!,” by Joanne Barkan; “We Love The Seaside,” by Kate Tym and “Play Fair, Have Fun!,” by Tisha Hamilton.

For more information about the holiday card or the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, visit www.jimmyfund.com.