ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 24, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Thomas Kinkade, America's Painter of Light(r), gifted a brand-new painting to the American people. Created from inspiration drawn on the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Kinkade's new release will raise money for relief efforts surrounding these tragedies.
The image, entitled The Light of Freedom, features an American flag, a golden eagle and the Statue of Liberty. Kinkade has donated the entire first edition printing, numbering 10,000 pieces, to The Salvation Army.
To make a donation and receive a lithographic print of the painting, collectors should mail a check or money order for $100 per print requested to: The Salvation Army, c/o Lightpost Publishing, P.O. Box 2530, Morgan Hill, CA 95308.
Unveiled during Saturday's pre-planned nationally televised closed-circuit broadcast, sales of the image were estimated to have reached $250,000 in the first hour, reports Media Arts Group, Inc., Kinkade's publisher. Kinkade says he hopes to raise more than a million dollars for The Salvation Army and their relief efforts in New York, Washington and worldwide through the sale of these prints.
"I love America and the American people," Kinkade said. "I just want to help in my own small way."