Restoring Rainbows is an international, youth-led nonprofit dedicated to making art accessible while protecting the planet. Our mission is to educate and empower diverse communities about the critical connections between art and climate change. With hundreds of volunteers across dozens of countries, we've already made a positive impact on countless lives.
Restoring Rainbows is a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered in the United States of America.
Both Jordan Chen and Grace Millard had a passion for art and recognized the importance and happiness that comes from making art. They never lacked the supplies or the resources to make art, but quickly realized this wasn't the case for everyone with one-third of households in the U.S. not being able to afford basic school supplies, let alone extras like paint or canvases.
At the same time, Jordan and Grace were struck by the large quantities of plastic markers and other supplies being discarded in schools—excess on one side, and necessity on the other. As they did more research they became increasingly alarmed by both the lack of access to educational materials, and the global climate crisis. They noticed an opportunity to close the divide by repurposing unused materials and giving them to those who needed them the most.
Through Restoring Rainbows Jordan and Grace have personally seen the kindness of certain individuals and the meaningful influence of others, motivating them to keep promoting art accessibility and sustainability globally.
Whether they're worn out, barely working, or gently used, we collect your school supplies and restore them, keeping them out of landfills.
We donate school supplies to unlock the creative potential of children, offering them the tools to turn their dreams into colorful realities, no matter their circumstances.
We educate communities about the intersection of climate change and art, raising awareness and inspiring meaningful action.
Environment
700 million plastic markers are produced annually by the world's leading marker brand, contributing to the 158,943,925 tons of plastic produced each year!
Cost
Many people struggle to afford educational supplies like markers. In fact, in the United States, 1 in 3 parents expect to go into debt due to Back to School Shopping.
Art
A UPenn study found that art exposure in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods was linked to a 14% decrease in cases of child abuse and neglect, 5% decrease in obesity, and an 18% decrease in serious crime rate.