GIVING BACK
As president of the St. Clair
Butterfly Foundation, John
continues to give back by
helping children of adversity.
The foundation, founded by
Chip and Lisa St. Clair, has
helped thousands of children to
find security, confidence, and
joy through the arts.
Chip St. Clair is the son of one of
America’s most wanted. His father
was committed for the murder
of a young boy. While serving
time, it was customary to have
the prisoners pick up trash on the
side of the road. One summer
day, Chip’s mother drove up, his
dad jumped in the car, and they
were on the run for twenty-six
20 | Eydis Magazine
years. Shortly after, his mother got
pregnant with Chip, which began
a life full of abuse, deception, and
confusion that would last over
twenty-two years for Chip. You
can read his story in his book,
The Butterfly Garden: Surviving
Childhood on the Run with One of
America’s Most Wanted.
The St. Clair Butterfly Foundation
helps children who are at risk
in high crime areas through a
curriculum developed by Chip
and Lisa St. Clair. This curriculum
includes creative writing, a yoga
program, art, and music.
“What happens are these
children have what I call ‘a hole
in the soul’,” John shares, “and,
they are “at risk” to fill that hole
with drug addiction, alcohol,
and/or criminal elements.” The
foundation offers these at risk
children an alternative through
creative arts, which is extremely
therapeutic.
“What we are doing is expanding
into three different elements: the
at-risk kids in lower economic
neighborhoods, the detention
centers, and the hospitals. So our
goal is to have the curriculum of
the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation
in these three areas. “
If you would like to find out
more about the St. Clair Butterfly
foundation, please visit www.
stclairbutterflyfoundation.com