At just seven years old, Celeste Erlenmeyer is using her love of art to spread kindness and support causes close to her heart.

Celeste and her family are frequent visitors to PWC, and one of their favorite stops is Edgar’s enclosure. She loves reading to our Raven Ambassador once or twice a month and says that PWC has always made her feel "welcome." So, with markers in hand and a big idea in mind, Celeste organized a neighborhood fundraiser to support both Piedmont Wildlife Center and St. Jude’s. She set up a stand selling her hand-drawn posters—many featuring inspiring quotes—and the response was incredible. The Mebane Fire Department even rolled up in their biggest fire truck, and both the Fire Department and Orange County Police Department showed their support by purchasing Celeste's artwork to display in their stations.

But this wasn’t just any fundraiser—it was a full-on neighborhood celebration! Kids had a blast with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and coloring pages, while friends, family, and even a few teachers from Celeste's school stopped by to enjoy the fun. Celeste’s grandparents even made a day of it, joining the family for lunch before heading to Eno River Farm for ice cream.

For Celeste, making art is all about bringing ideas to life, and this time, her creativity helped two causes close to her heart.

Thank you, Celeste, for your kindness, creativity, and support—you’re an inspiration to us all!