My professional relationship with the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) began in 1993.
I sent a newly released autographed copy of my published picture book, IT'S MY EARTH, TOO (Doubleday) to then First Lady, Hillary Clinton. I sent a book to Tipper Gore, wife of the Vice President. And, I sent a book to Marian Wright-Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund. CDF was the original "Leave No Child Behind - Stand for Children" organization.
I also included a note with each book to please consider a stand for environmentally friendly publishing. IT'S MY EARTH TOO was published in an environmentally friendly way.
I received two thank you notes in the mail.
A few weeks later CDF called on the telephone. Gulp! Not only did they thank me for the book, Marian Wright-Edelman wanted to publish my art on their greeting cards. She felt my art style aligned with the spirit of CDF. I sent a few images and two were chosen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPKSEpW3NwlpKhlio4RGaw6_JnIVmITzQYrIXZaymqTt_szO__akLxFtKowlreVOJKD299tnmFMAoLzHxwugUh7I_LInPPfaTiSrzunj8PpmW-4SAXZxbMCOxN1RrdGcJ6fXe9miksw8/s400/img942.jpg)
Around the same time I had also published a poster using the cover art from IT'S MY EARTH, TOO. I sent the poster as a gift to Marian Wright-Edleman who loved it. She re-published the poster with the CDF logo.
"Everyone Belongs" was reprinted several times and was published for 10 years. The illustration was also published as coffee mugs
A bookmark for Marian Wright Edelman's book titled, "GUIDE MY FEET".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWKRUdl2bCvpfg5FUHG2anOnLzB_lxDM17BWgvDC9tETs6lnV4aQQfq42pi7iThGCtKANJ5uEoKfI75EPT4du9P29w_Gt_mgvfMqvJd9_iZ9lygKp5VnnPwmvt35isVI9wBvauXWtqRA/s320/img940.jpg)
Stamps, and many other greeting cards.
Best of all I got to meet Marian Wright-Edelman.
FREE Coloring Page! Color the sketch from my Children's Defense Fund greeting card. I do at least one sketch for every finished illustration. Download my monthly FREE Coloring Pages at the What Do We Do All Day Blog.
Art: Copyright Melanie Hope Greenberg