Stellar Arts Foundation is an educational and charitable non-profit organization based in Penn Valley, California and Barzitsa, Bulgaria. It was formed in 2001, originally inspired by Coupeville, Washington’s robust arts community.

The foundation has provided ongoing support to children and their families in the village of Barzitsa, Bulgaria. For example:

• We assist Roma children who would otherwise not attend school because their families cannot afford the cost of text books and transportation to school. This inability to pursue their education leads to a cycle of unemployment and poverty in this caste.
• We employed (for $45 a month each) four retired local elderly ladies to work in the orphanage and act as “Baba” (grandma) to the children. One Baba is a retired hair stylist and the program created a hair styling class. SAF purchased all equipment and now girls are learning the skill.
• Another Baba is a retired seamstress. Two broken sewing machines already existing in the home were repaired, and the Baba is teaching sewing to the children.
• We hired a professional folkloric dance teacher and established a folk dancing group
• We hired a psychologist to assist the children in crises
  
• We introduced the Rhythmic Arts Project to two orphanages; Through rhythm of drum beats, children learn basic skills, communication, and work toward healing emotional and/or behavior problems. The foundation arranged for the U.S. founder, Eddie Tuduri to visit Bulgaria thanks to our generous donors, and purchased two sets of percussion instruments needed for the program.
• Our most recent effort will rehab a cottage with running water to house a young family now living in a dirt-floored hut.
• We have identified a young father in need of vocational education so he can provide for his family.

Program Support

. Private and Corporate Donations
. Grants
. Percent from the sale of Stella               Canfield's paintings