BrushMagic Kids was created by Peter Ng, a well known painter living in Boston. He hopes the program will improve the future of students across America.
Ng emigrated from Hong Kong to America at age ten. After finishing high school, he joined the Air Force, serving in Vietnam. After the war, He came home to become the first Asian American to pursue a career as an air traffic controller and went on to become Communications Director of the Federal Aviation Administration. Ng served the government for a total forty-one years, and now works as an artist and philanthropist in the Boston area. “I want to give back to this country,” he says, “because… this country is a great country. It gave me the opportunity to make me who I am today,”. His experience as an immigrant beneficiary, led him to create the BrushMagic Kids Program. With a smile on his face, at our interview, he shared his simple motto: “Aspire to inspire before you expire.”
The BrushMagic Kids Program is an ambitious, long term project that Ng began in June 2021, it is open to all students in America. To qualify, a student must apply on the website. The application requires the applicant to draw a planet earth (which will be used as an avatar), attach his/her transcript which must include only A’s and B’s and a written commitment to stay in school, shun violence, and avoid alcohol and drugs. BrushMagic Kids will then verify the application, and enter the student into a weekly lottery for a $100 cash prize. The winning student will receive the cash prize and gift cards will also awarded to his/her parents and teachers.
Ng hopes the program will inspire students to value the pursuit of learning and to develop self-reliance, thus achieving two important goals. Currently, one hundred students have won $100, all of whom were recruited without advertising. “[Youth] is the future,” Ng says, “that is why I want to create an opportunity for all the kids out there.”
Justin Le, a student, heard about the BrushMagic Kids Program through Ohana New England, a nonprofit dragon boat organization. Now in college, he remembers that the money helped him buy books, “I believe people should apply… It is very easy to apply yourself.”
Veera Mahadomrongkul, a parent, says: “I thinuk [BrushMagic Kids] does motivate kids… I can see it getting bigger than… [Ng] had envisioned. It is a really good program.” It rewards students who are already studying hard, but it also encourages others to work for As and Bs so they can try to win the prize.
Ng hopes that the program will grow to increase the number of winners, award college scholarships, and organize STEM, art and essay contests without resorting to fundraising. His next step will be to introduce the project nationally. “My goal is to help. I don’t need anything back,” says Ng.
Ng’s generosity and willingness to invest in the creation of BrushMagic Kids not only encourages students to aspire to academic excellence, but also inspires America to give back. . His actions demonstrate to kids that there is really somebody out there who wants to help people and yet wants nothing in return. Ng wants kids across the nation to reach their dreams through hard work; to fulfill their dreams as he did.
Ng says: “The best way to support the BrushMagic Kids Program is to participate… When you participate, you inspire others to apply.” To apply, visit the website, go to brushmagickids.org.
SAMPAN, published by the nonprofit Asian American Civic Association, is the only bilingual Chinese-English newspaper in New England, acting as a bridge between Asian American community organizations and individuals in the Greater Boston area. It is published biweekly and distributed free-of-charge throughout metro Boston; it is also delivered to as far away as Hawaii.
