Fourth-graders Aniya Boyd and Elijah Mackey from Bruns Academy make watercolor painting after touring the Bearden exhibit on Dec. 1 as part of the Harvey Gantt Center's effort to support the LIFT schools.

Project LIFT, almost one year into its five-year quest to raise $55 million for westside schools, has $46 million in hand, including almost $366,000 from African American donors. Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com