For this year's fundraiser to benefit animals in need, I decided to do something different and create paintings to sell, using the theme of Back to Nature. I created a very special painting, Lapis Lazuli, which resembled a cross section of the semi-precious stone, to raffle off during the fundraiser. As always, all of the money raised was donated to a local animal shelter in November. We raised $200.00 this year, which was matched by another generous donor, bringing the total to $400.00 to help the animals at Verona Street Animal Society.