Janet Thiede, Real Living HER

Janet Thiede is involved a variety of community and school projects and is most proud of her involvement with the creation of the Arts Palace, which she co-founded with a friend, Jan Brown, and the Palace Theatre.

Now in its tenth year, the Arts Palace has grown into a full program of camps, classes, and workshops offering a wide variety of art medium to students of all ages, from pre-school to adults. In its infancy, Janet and her co-founders gave this program its strong start -- gathering people together to visit art programs, scheduling teachers and classes, creating and distributing brochures, purchasing supplies. They also developed scholarship guidelines and a small scholarship program (thanks to the Brown Foundation) to start it out.

Janet is also actively involved in numerous school projects, and currently serves as PTO vice president for both Pickerington North High School and Fairfield Elementary and is co-chair of Pickerington High School's Antique and Craft Show, which attracts 100 vendors and thousands of people, and serves as a fundraiser for both high schools.

Janet says, "I've never been a person to just sit back and watch. If something needs to be done and no one seems to be stepping up to do it, I volunteer. If I see someone in desperate need of help, I ask what I can do. I've especially enjoyed helping with activities involving my children. It has given me opportunities to meet and work with some very nice and talented people. It has given me a greater opportunity to be a part of the lives of my children."