Hard Work on Mural Pays Off for Alta E. Butler School

Thirty volunteers contributed 150 hours of painting to get to today: the unveiling of a new large-scale mural at Alta E. Butler School.

Some of those volunteers included members of the Ohio State football team, who got in some brushstrokes during its Fiesta Bowl visit. The Buckeyes worked with Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona to paint some of the mural, foursquare courts and paw logos on the sidewalks. Dozens of players took part, including captain and linebacker Raekwon McMillan, defensive end Jalyn Holmes and linebacker Chris Worley.

“I just feel like when you do stuff like this, everybody has a role,” Holmes told Landof10.com, a blog that covers the Big Ten Conference in college football. “If you use your role in a positive way and be a good example for somebody, everybody’s going to follow. If you can be something good for people to follow, it’s only going to bring good karma and inner joy to you. I found by giving back that serving others brought happiness inside of me. If you can find that, the world will be a better place.”

“It’s about giving back and showing compassion for others. I don’t know anybody out here, but just to be able to show my love for them and make their day makes my day,” he said.

Alta E. Butler School is a K-5 school in the Isaac School District in Phoenix.

Students, community members, faculty, staff and volunteers began work on the beautification project over the holiday season.

Inspired by feedback from the school and community, artist Francisco Garcia and his team of five high school students from Desiderata Alternative Program in Phoenix designed and created the mural.

They sketched an outline so others could add the finishing touches.

“A lot of hard work went into this beautification project,” said Mario Ventura, superintendent of the Isaac School District. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the Fiesta Bowl bringing together The Ohio State Buckeyes, Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, Do Good. Live Well, United Healthcare and Playworks Arizona. We a deeply appreciate their commitment in providing our students with this safe, newly-transformed, resourceful, and beautiful recess center, they can appreciate.”

The project is part of a grant awarded to Playworks by Fiesta Bowl Charities and UnitedHealthcare that expanded Playworks services to 35,000 students in Arizona.