Art and awareness come together once again as O’Gorman High School art students take paintbrush to metal for a meaningful cause. On Wednesday, July 16 at 9 a.m., students will repaint the Emily’s Hope VW Bug at Autoland (2500 N. Maple Lane), just ahead of the annual Emily’s Hope Cruise Night car show, which begins at 5 p.m.
Under the direction of O’Gorman Art Teacher Patrick Frankman, students will transform the blank VW Beetle into a vibrant tribute inspired by the original artwork of Emily Groth, a talented young artist who lost her life to fentanyl poisoning in 2018. The bug, generously donated by Autoland, was first stripped and painted last year for the event and has since become a symbol of hope, creativity, and awareness.
The freshly painted bug will be unveiled at the Cruise Night car show later that evening, where families and car enthusiasts gather to support Emily’s Hope’s mission to raise awareness about substance use disorder and the overdose/fentanyl poisoning epidemic.
“We’re honored to give students a creative way to be part of our mission,” said Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily’s Hope. “The painted bug is more than just a car; it’s a moving piece of art and a powerful visual representation of the impact one life can have.”
Media are invited to attend the painting at Autoland starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16. Interviews with students, Patrick Frankman, and Emily’s Hope representatives will be available on site.
About Emily’s Hope
Emily’s Hope is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and to save lives through evidence-informed education, compassionate support, and financial assistance for recovery. Founded by award-winning journalist Angela Kennecke after the tragic overdose death of her daughter Emily, the organization has become a national voice for prevention and hope. Emily’s Hope offers a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum used across the country, the Grieving Out Loud podcast, and on-the-ground initiatives such as naloxone distribution, a Post-Overdose Response Team, and a Youth Prevention Coalition in South Dakota. The organization also provides treatment scholarships to help individuals access care. Learn more about Emily’s Hope at emilyshope.charity.
For additional media information, please visit emilyshope.charity/media.