The late Jimmy Stewart had "Harvey." Fallon artist Jenni Harrison has "Million Hare." Million Hare is Harrison's cartoon rabbit creation and the symbol of her fledgling art program. The Million Hare Art Program provides volunteers to share art, music or crafts with people facing difficulty: the homebound, those in hospitals, rehabilitation programs, convalescent homes, or shelters. Harrison would like Million Hare to do for others what he did for her.

"November 3, 1995, my world came to a screeching halt when I suddenly lost the use of my left leg nd was diagnosed with severe lower spine degeneration. I had no major medical insurance at all. My daughter and I had no food at times," said Harrison. She was bedridden for eight months.

"One night when I was particularly depressed I asked myself, 'Where am I going to go from here? What would I like to be? I laughed and thought I'd like to be a millionaire. I drew the character of a little rabbit out of the clear blue and knew Millionaire/Million Hare was his name. I feel it was given to me. I don't know how you explain something like that," she said.

Million Hare, Harrison's sketched character, became a symbol of hope for her. Her spinal degeneration was contained and she is now active with the aid of a wheelchair.

Friends of Harrison contacted U.S. Senator Harry Reid's office on her behalf. That got her the help she needed by setting her up with the people who could help her.  She said Million Hare is her way of paying back Nevada and Fallon for their help and support.

"Hopelessness can be the final bullet to the human spirit. It is amazing how art can give you hope. I began to paint and draw while confined to my hospital bed. It felt good to create. I was able to begin to deal more positively with my physical and emotional pains.  I decided to share art as a way of healing," she said.

How does Million Hare feel about her expectations of him? "He's really kind of insecure. He thinks he can do it, but he's not really sure," she said giving her sketch a life of its own.

As night supervisor and a counselor intern at Fallon's New Frontier, a substance abuse treatment center, Harrison  put Million Hare to work. She and Million Hare volunteered after hours to provide art classes for New Frontier patients.

Million Hare has also worked with the Day Treatment Program at the Churchill Council on Alcohol and other Drugs. The Council helped fund Harrison's work with the young adults.

"I really saw a color change in the kid's art as we worked together," said Harrison. "When we started their colors were very dark, a lot of black and blue. As we progressed, the colors became lighter, happier, cleaner and crisper. I felt like maybe I saw a little bit of happiness that wasn't there before. That's not just the work of Million Hare, but the work of the Council.

"I really feel a need to provide arts programs for youth in Churchill County, as well as others. Million Hare will go to anyone, but he really loves kids," said Harrison. An informal survey she conducted with her Day Treatment students showed a strong interest in art classes. Harrison is working on her psychology degree with the help of Vocational Rehabilitation, the agency that also provided her wheelchair.

"My goal is to do art therapy on a professional level," she said. "In the meantime, I can provide companionship and encouragement as an artist.

"I'm having the time of my life with Million Hare. He's made me phenomenally rich. When one of the kids (in the Day Treatment Program) would look up at me and smile because I told them, 'Good Job', that was the big pay off."

Harrison was recently invited to become a member of the VSA arts Gallery in Washington, D.C., which features the work of professional artists with disabilities. VSA arts of Nevada has also decided to help support her Million Hare Art Program.

Despite her emotional wealth and the latest funding from VSA arts of Nevada, Harrison and her program are not literally rich. She currently provides her own art supplies, which are dwindling, and she is the program's only instructor. Million Hare's needs include a work location with sinks for clean-up and restrooms available, art supplies and teachers.

Anyone interested in donating money or time to the Million Hare Art Program should contact Harrison at (775) 322-3384.

"It doesn't have to be a major commitment. If someone is able to teach even one class, that would be great," she said.

This article was written by Amy Burton and appeared in the Lahontan Valley News/FallonEagle Standard on 7/12/97.

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VSA arts of Nevada Please direct questions and comments about VSA arts of Nevada to info@vsan.reno.nv.us

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