THE FUNDRED PROJECT

Local students, artists and dignitaries will greet the Fundred Project collection vehicle as it rolls into Cedar Rapids Thurs, April 8,  to collect over $200,000 in hundred dollar bills.

The hundred dollar bills are actually artworks created by Eastern Iowa students as part of a national project to address lead contamination in New Orleans.

Fundreds are hand-drawn interpretations of US $100 bills created to support a solution to the hidden lead problem in post-Katrina New Orleans and other cities across the country. The goal is to collect artworks from more than 3 million students, to be used in an even exchange for $300 million in federal dollars to treat lead-contaminated soil in New Orleans.

The Fundred collection vehicle is scheduled to roll up in front of CSPS at 3 pm Thurs. Metro High School students will serve as uniformed security guards to officially usher the Cedar Rapids Fundred funds into safekeeping for the journey to Washington DC. Everyone is welcome to join the fun.

Students of all ages who wish to contribute a Fundred artwork will have the opportunity to do so beginning at 1 pm. Fundred templates and art supplies will be provided.

As part of their Fundred artworks, local students have replaced Benjamin Franklin with everything from SpongeBob SquarePants to their mothers and cats. One student even swapped Philadelphia’s Independence Hall with the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Artist Mel Chin originated the Fundred Project to draw attention to and develop solutions for environmentally responsible rebuilding of New Orleans from the ground up.