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Spark Associate: The Memory Project
See pictures of the orphans and their portraits.

The Memory Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Ben Schumacher in October 2004, is a Spark Associate.  In their Memory Portraits program, advanced high school and university-level art students create original portraits for children living in orphanages around the world.

Given that children who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, or orphaned usually have few personal keepsakes, the purpose of the portraits is to provide them with a special memory of their youth and to help honor their heritage and identity.  Additionally, the students who create the portraits have the opportunity to learn more about the orphan and his/her community and struggles of life in impoverished countries. 

In the fall of 2006, Spark Ventures collaborated with Ben and The Memory Project by providing pictures of the children of Hope House Orphanage.  Ben worked with New York City school teacher, Ernesto Pederoso to have his class of high school students draw portraits of the children.  In January of 2007, the portraits were delivered to the children, visualized below.