Dear Friend,
If you knew Dina, you knew her fierce curiosity. KYW News Radio played constantly in her studio; a tower of newspapers lived by her desk; dinner was never dinner without a spirited debate about the world. She believed deeply that staying informed was a civic duty.
At the very same table, my brother Lee and I also learned another lifelong truth: Art has power. Our parents taught us that artists are truth-tellers, witnesses, resistors—and that a thriving cultural ecosystem of art, artists and allies is essential to a free and compassionate society. In Hebrew, the phrase Tikkun Olam means “repairing the world.” For Dina, for Jerry, and now for us, supporting artists is one of the most profound ways to do exactly that.
In 2025, the Dina Wind Art Foundation has tried to live those values boldly and with heart. With your help, we have created a year filled with community, generosity, and unapologetic celebration of artists and ideas.
Highlights from this year include:
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Hosting an MLK Day gathering and providing a safe community space on Inauguration Day—featuring a powerful conversation with Bobbi Booker and Eric Marsh Sr. about Dr. King’s ongoing influence on politics, social justice, and the arts.
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Providing scholarships for teachers attending professional development at Grounds For Sculpture and Woodmere Art Museum—investing directly in arts educators.
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Welcoming Philadelphia Sculptors for a vibrant summer mixer and Pecha Kucha—so successful that next year’s edition is already scheduled.
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Gathering former Arts + Business Council leaders to dream together about the organization’s future at its new home at the LaSalle Non-Profit Center.
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Introducing author Lee Wind, whose “We Are Stronger than Censorship” project is fighting book bans nationwide.
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Spotlighting Philadelphia artists—Caitlin McCormack, Kara Mshinda, and Kathleen Studebaker—through online Viewing Rooms, lively receptions, and our very first costumed Halloween Fête and Fall Fundraiser.
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Supporting Rising Wing, the newly reborn collective of young arts leaders shaping Philadelphia’s cultural future.
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Sustaining the legacy of nearly 600 Fleisher Wind Challenge artists, with our hugely popular weekly “Wind Challenge Wednesdays” posts.
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Opening our doors monthly for public guided tours, in partnership with neighboring Magic Gardens Studio, inviting visitors into Dina’s world through more than 300 of her sculptures and paintings.
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Investing in the artists of tomorrow through ongoing Dina Wind Scholarships at PAFA, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Every one of these programs is powered by seed funding from my parents—and by the generosity of people like you. We operate with a small budget, a dedicated board, and a team driven by love, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the role of art in shaping a better world. Your support has taken us farther than we ever imagined. Now, as we look toward 2026, we are asking for your help once again.
Please consider a contribution to our Annual Appeal this holiday season.
A gift made by December 31 supports our work and qualifies for your year-end tax deduction.
And this year, your gift has even greater impact. For every contribution of $100 or more, the Foundation will donate $16 to We Are Stronger Than Censorship, and Jerry Wind will match it—funding the purchase and distribution of four banned books across the United States. A direct, tangible stand for freedom of expression. Our goal this season is to raise $25,000. This would result in as many as 1000 books being donated and a big statement being made!
With so many good causes to consider, I want to share why I believe our Foundation is unique. Our mission says it simply:
The Dina Wind Art Foundation empowers living artists, builds community, and supports arts education.
It is work rooted in love, resilience, and the belief that together we can harness the power of art to help heal our world. To donate, please click below to visit our secure giving page. Please give by December 31, 2025.
DONATE HERE
John Wind
President
P.S. - As a relatively new Foundation president, I have been profoundly moved by how people respond to our programs—visitors tell us they feel supported, inspired, seen. And that what we are doing matters to them. In a time when that feeling is rare, your generosity makes it possible. My parents gifted me a strong hospitality gene, and my husband Bill—our unofficial chef and host—shares it fully. It is our privilege to welcome guests into our space. As we enter the season of gratitude and giving, I am thankful for every moment of this work, and for you.
