Tara Coury began her volunteer work at the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center of Cleveland when she was a freshman at Magnificat High School and used her skills as an artist to work with an art therapy group. She soon became more interested in the work at the center to help the children deal with the stresses of domestic violence and was inspired to find a way to make more of an impact.
Coury realized she could blend her passion for art with her goal to impact the organization. She developed a group of characters who had psychological profiles similar to the children she worked with at the center and wrote a story around them. She painted pictures and hand-lettered text to accompany them. Her book was a hit with the children and adults at the center.
Tara decided to turn the story into a real children’s book to raise money for the center. She found a local publisher, and the paintings and text were turned into a hardcover children’s book. An initial print run of 1,000 full-color books was completed in October 2011.
Her efforts to market the book were more successful than she dreamed. She and her book were featured on television, radio and in a variety of publications in Northeast Ohio. Sales of her book, “The Safe House,” have helped Tara generate more than $14,000 — all of which has been donated to the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center of Cleveland.
Today, one year later, Tara is a freshman at Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City. She has been using the book as a platform for her cause — to promote awareness of domestic violence.
Her book is available on Amazon.com, as well as numerous bookstores — including the Barnard bookstore.
How to reach: Tara Coury, (440) 821-5821 or [email protected]
