An art opening and wine & cheese reception in honor of Karen Condon will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 4 at Darien Rowayton Bank, 1001 Post Road, where Karen’s art work will be on display throughout the month of May.
As a young woman and accomplished concert violinist, Karen Condron won a full scholarship to Hofstra University to study biology. As a mother and promotional products entrepreneur, Karen earned record sales, high profile franchises, and loyal customers.
As a new grandmother, however, Karen was confronted with a diagnosis of Bulbar-Onset ALS. She was told to do whatever she wanted in life within the next two months.
In the face of this terrible disease seven years later, Karen’s spirit is still strong. She exercises. She maintains over 600 active accounts despite loss of speech. And she paints watercolors with her one good hand. Karen’s dynamic spirit and her love of Connecticut’s shoreline flow from her brushes onto her paper every Sunday afternoon.
So it follows that Karen does more than paint with her paint.
Karen Condon’s work will be on display throughout the month of May at Darien Rowayton Bank in downtown Darien.
Karen has started a 501(c)3 foundation, the Karen Condron Spirit Foundation. Contributions and proceeds from her art will go directly to support the work of the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at John Hopkins University and the Eleanor & Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University.
Advised by Newman’s Own, the Karen Condron Spirit Center has been set up similar in format to the Paul Newman Foundation. Karen and her husband Jim have established this business entity to fund the foundation and generate sustainable revenue for ALS research.
Using their 30 years’ experience in the promotional products industry and their relationships with the largest suppliers and logistical services in the business, they have established an online store: KarenSpiritCenter.com. The net profit will go directly to fund ALS research at the Packard Center and Columbia University and other pro-actively selected ALS clinics and services.