It all started off as something to learn during quarantine and grew into a busy fundraiser on Instagram.
Inspired by illustrations she saw on Pinterest and Instagram, Sara Wolfley, a George Mason University senior from Ashburn, Virginia, decided to learn how to do them herself. When she realized people liked her illustrations, she decided to use them to raise funds for causes in which she believes. Communicating via Instagram at @sara.wolfleyy, the film and video studies major offered to illustrate photos for people in return for $5 donations to charities related to racial justice.
Within a few days in mid-June, demand “exploded,” as Wolfley describes it. She was inundated with dozens of requests, often for multiple illustrations from each person. Her illustrations led to a $700 donation to Justice for Breonna Taylor. Taylor was a Black emergency medical technician killed while sleeping by officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department executing a no-knock warrant. Wolfley says she is dedicated to ensuring proceeds from her illustrations continue to go to meaningful causes.