Volunteer – Laura Rivas
Organization – Naperville Art League (NAL)
Through educational programs, workshops and exhibits, NAL dedicates itself to raising awareness and appreciation of the arts for the cultural enhancement of the community.
508 N. Center St., Naperville
Laura Rivas entered the Naperville Fine Art Center & Gallery (NFAC&G) 12 years ago as a student wanting to enhance her painting skills. She quickly became an integral part of the organization and “has spent countless hours in public and behind the scenes to support all aspects of the organization. Always forward thinking and vigilant, she tackles jobs before others realize they need to be done,” stated Debbie Venezia, NAL’s executive director.
Reliable and personable, Laura has a strong work ethic and belief in NAL’s mission to encourage artists and promote art appreciation in the community. Her many contributions have played a major role in the growth of NAL as she has made a consistent effort to personally support interaction with local organizations and to get to know all NAL member artists.
No task is too big or small for Laura. It is not unusual to see her at the art gallery on a summer morning watering plants or on a Sunday afternoon preparing the gallery for the next exhibit. For more than 10 years she has played a key role in coordinating and installing NAL sponsored exhibits; and for eight consecutive years, she’s served on the Board of Directors as president and as director of exhibits.
“From proofreading documents to scrubbing floors and pulling weeds, from providing invaluable assistance in the preparation and execution of NAL’s annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair to making sure necessary supplies are on hand at NFAC&G, Laura is committed to sharing her talents and thoughtfulness to raise the bar on all we do,” Venezia said.
“Everything Laura does, she does with a genuine humility and a sincere desire to serve others. We are grateful that she chose to walk in our doors and make NAL her home.”
Volunteer of the month is sponsored by Naperville Bank & Trust, serving Naperville with three locations, 555 Fort Hill Dr., 1205 S. Naper Blvd. and 5 S. Washington in the historic downtown post office. For more info, visit www.banknaperville.com.
