Betsy Westendorp (b. 1927)
Painting No. 17: Orchids
signed and dated 1989 (lower right)
acrylic on canson paper
19" x 12" (49 cm x 30 cm)
León Gallery invites you to participate in a special segment for this auction, for lots 68 to 82 to raise funds for the International Care Ministries and the good work they do for the poorest of the poor in the Visayas and Mindanao. INTERNATIONAL CARE MINISTRIES (ICM) is a non-profit organization that has its roots in Bacolod, Philippines that steadily grew to touch and change the lives of over a million people. Now, ICM has 12 regional bases in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The population of the areas where ICM reaches is nearly 20 million people. Of those, 2.2 million people live in ultra-poverty on less than US$0.50 per day. Who are the ultra-poor? The World Bank describes poverty as those living on less than US$3.20 a day. Those living on less than $1.90 are in extreme poverty — a level that could threaten the survival of a person. ICM focuses on “ultra-poverty” — those who live on less than US$0.50 per person a day. “Even before the virus hit, their lives were unimaginable,” shares David Sutherland, ICM chairman. Among the ultra-poor families, their average income is just US$0.28 — that’s 14 pesos per person per day. Twenty-nine percent of them have no electricity, 43% live with illnesses, and 15% of mothers have had one of their own children die. COVID-19 made it worse, 72% of Filipinos ICM serves say that they are earning less now than before the pandemic. ICM’s Strategy for Change ICM works with more than 10,000 pastors who serve in poor communities. These local leaders are the backbone of ICM’s ability to reach the poor at scale. ICM has been able to reach so many vulnerable families through our extended network of pastors. Their local churches provide a uniquely scalable, cost-effective distribution channel for poverty-reduction interventions. They bring hope for a better future. The pastors help invite and identify the most vulnerable families from their community who would most benefit from ICM’s Transform program. Transform program is ICM’s holistic four-month weekly program that builds capacity for real change in ultra-poor families. ICM Transform trainers join the pastor and community volunteers to teach the interactive curriculum. The multi-faceted training focuses on four essential areas for HOPE to grow: HEART: Fostering positive values for strong character. Progress out of poverty starts with the belief that change is possible. OPPORTUNITY: Empowering income generation and savings for families to have a sustainable income. More than just surviving the immediate needs of today, those in ultra-poverty need the tools to provide for their families tomorrow. PHYSICAL: Promoting healthy living for greater family well-being. Poor health is both caused by poverty and contributes to poverty. ICM addresses health challenges of those in ultra-poverty by giving them health education, medical treatment, and covering the surgical costs and treatment for those with more serious medical issues. EDUCATION: Launching confident young learners ready for school. The importance of education for children in low-income families cannot be overstated. Investing in early childhood education yields high returns, not only for children’s academic success but also in higher-paying jobs as adults. 1.4 million people have graduated from ICM’s Transform program since 2009. In ICM’s survey it has shown that after Transform, participants have had 107% increase in income, 36% reduction in illness, and 16% increase in family life satisfaction, among other aspects in their lives. In order for the ultra-poor to sustain their progress out of poverty, ICM invests in community leaders identified during Transform. The Thrive program empowers local pastors to become agents of change in their communities. Prevail equips savings group leaders with skills to mature their groups for continued success. Flourish trains community health champions to promote family health and well-being in their communities. QUICK FACTS ABOUT ICM What is International Care Ministries (ICM)? ICM is a non-profit organization focused on transforming the lives of the ultra-poor. For nearly 30 years now, ICM has focused on ultra-poverty — those who live on less than 50 US cents per person a day. Even before the pandemic, their lives were unimaginable: - Their average income was just 26 US cents per person a day - 29% of the households have no electricity - 43% of them live with illnesses - And an astonishing 10% of all children are clinically malnourished. ICM’s core program Transform trains the ultra-poor to help them in four important areas to help them get out of poverty: - VALUES: Instills hope that helps participants realize that they can change their own lives. - LIVELIHOOD AND SAVINGS: Provides the training, resources, and support for women to start new businesses, save earnings, and invest in their futures. - HEALTH AND MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS: General health screenings and lessons on sanitation, family health, diet, disease prevention. This includes medical treatment for common health issues to serious medical problems. - EDUCATION: Investing in childhood education yields high returns, not only in school, but also in higher-paying jobs as adults. TRANSFORM WORKS! - After only four months, participants increase their incomes by 107% - 36% Reduction of Illnesses - 25% decrease in depression and dozens of other life improvements. We are a data-driven organization and we collect hundreds of millions of data points. Just a few of the many things ICM has accomplished during the pandemic: - Delivered 14 million meals, to more than 1.3 million families. - Partnered with the Philippine Department of Education to provide parent-coaches to train and equip parents with at-home learning best practices. - Started our first studies as part of our Global Innovation Fund (GIF) grant in partnership with Dean Karlan and IPA to look for ways to improve the effectiveness of the Transform program. In Betsy Westendorp’s grand retrospective and monograph, art critic Cid Reyes noted that despite the profusion of tropical blooms in the country, it took the Spanish artist Betsy Westendorp to depict and appreciate the Philippines’ rich floral diversity. Painting No. 17, Orchids, is of the native fragrant sanggumay (Denbrobium anosmum), often referred to as Purple Rain orchids, for its impressive and profuse cascade of purple inflorescence which bloom in the cool, dry period of the country. Often juxtaposing the wonderful flowers and seashells of the country with the elite of Manila, Westendorp successfully alludes to the rarity, graceful grandeur, and exquisite beauty of her sitters; as well as a clear acknowledgment and appreciation of their Philippine identity. Reyes notes “… Her great body of works consists of portraits of the society elite of Madrid and Manila. Her landscapes of Philippine terrain, seascapes of Manila Bay, her colourful celebration of Philippine flora …the various species of the native orchid, and literally, in the sunset of her years, the grand symphonic cloudscapes across Philippine skies — never depicted by any Filipino artist.”
