Little Bee Gallery Expands Artist Network to Fund Cerebral Palsy Therapy

A family-run online art gallery that donates 100% of net proceeds to fund therapy for a child with cerebral palsy is attracting established artists from across North America who want their work to make a direct, measurable impact.

Little Bee Gallery, founded 15 months ago by Calgary-based Melanie Mireault and

Suzanne Mireault in Winnipeg, has already raised enough through their gallery to cover

all physiotherapy and therapy intensives for their nephew Beckett for all of 2024 and

2025. Now, internationally recognized artists are donating work to what the founders call

the “Friends of Little Bee” program.

When Beckett was born in May 2023 with a brain injury and was later diagnosed with

cerebral palsy, his family quickly learned that access to intensive therapy and

specialized equipment would play a defining role in his ability to gain strength, mobility,

and independence. They also learned that this care is costly, ongoing, and often difficult

for families to sustain.

In response, Beckett’s aunt Melanie and great-aunt Suzanne launched Little Bee

Gallery with a singular purpose: to fund therapy and adaptive equipment for Beckett.

Through a model in which artists donate their work and time, net proceeds from art

sales are directed toward his care.

“Everything we do begins with Beckett,” said Suzanne, who spent decades running an

advertising agency before retiring and focusing on her art. “Each piece sold represents

real therapy hours, real equipment, and real progress. That clarity of purpose is what

artists and collectors respond to.”

The gallery’s Friends of Little Bee program now includes nearly 20 established artists.

Tampa Bay expressionist Caroline Karp is the most recent to donate work to the

program, contributing a significant original piece. She joins, amongst others,

internationally exhibited Canadian artist Roger Lafreniere and Shawna Boulette

Grapentine, whose work has been showcased nationally and internationally.

Karp holds a BFA from Florida State University and an MA from the University of

Colorado. Her work has been featured in New Visionary Magazine and Voyage Tampa,

and is held in private collections worldwide. She is also the founder of Creative Genius

Zone, an expressive art education platform for children and adults.

“Little Bee Gallery is grounded in something very real,” said Karp. “It’s not abstract

philanthropy — the impact is immediate and personal. I’m honoured to support a child’s

journey through my work.”

For Melanie, who balances her role at the gallery with full-time work as legal counsel,

the focus remains firmly on her nephew’s needs. “We’re not trying to build a traditional

gallery,” she said. “We’re using art as a practical tool to help fund Beckett's care that

supports his development. If this model can eventually help other children, it will be

because artists and supporters believed in the mission.”

As Little Bee Gallery enters its second year, the founders remain focused on supporting

Beckett while exploring how the model might one day extend to other families facing

similar challenges.

About Little Bee Gallery

Little Bee Gallery is an online art gallery co-founded by Melanie Mireault (Calgary) and

Suzanne Mireault (Winnipeg) to support their nephew Beckett, who lives with cerebral

palsy. All artists donate their work and time, allowing 100% of net proceeds from art

sales to fund Beckett’s therapy and specialized equipment. The gallery’s long-term

vision is to expand support to additional children as resources allow.