Michelle Finnegan was born in Boston. Michelle was interested in the arts at an early age studying classical ballet and writing children’s books when most people her age were still reading them. Supported by her parents, Michelle was educated at several of the finest schools and participated in several artistic programs in which she painted, sculpted, and showed her photography skills, winning a number of awards.

Michelle studied at a variety of locations including Stonehill, UMASS and Amherst College. Although the crux of her concentration was in Social Theory and Political Economy, she maintained a special interest in children’s literature. Working for major corporations, international hotels, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Michelle also derived much of her education through real life experience before returning to the School for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where she focused on her photography then went on to produce a film she wrote.

Michelle has traveled extensively and studied in many countries and continents, including the US, Europe, South America, and Africa. She has served as a staff reporter and Medical Service Coordinator for internationally acclaimed organization, Healing the Children, traveling with medical professionals who treated children around the world with serious physical deformities. Michelle’s interest in helping children also encouraged her to work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to young children with serious illnesses. For more than ten years, Michelle raised money for this organization and was trained and certified as an official wish granter.

Fromer butler of Princess Diana visited Naples and shared his book with Michelle Finnegan

Michelle works with many other charitable causes focusing on the needs of children, the protection of the environment, and international causes for freedom, justice and the understanding about differences and similarities in all walks of life. Michelle’s humanitarian work was recognized in 1999 by, Amitie Sans Frontieres (Friendship Without Borders), an international group promoting basic principles of justice, tolerance and friendship – which awarded her a medal of recognition and asked her to open a new chapter for the group.

Michelle’s concern for the environment encouraged her to lobby for the protection and development of parkland and greenspace. She successfully lobbied the Massachusetts House of Representatives to raise awareness of environmental concerns along the Neponset River Valley, resulting in a major clean up project of parkland stretching 10 miles and connecting Boston’s Emerald necklace. Michelle has worked as a docent in the Nature Discovery Center at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida to promote and facilitate augmented public knowledge of the eight major ecosystems of Southwest Florida. She also worked with the Friends of the Public Garden’s Rose Brigade, personally pruning and taking care of the beautiful roses in Boston’s famous Public Garden, where she likes to take a stroll whenever she’s in town.

Since 2000, Michelle Finnegan’s paintings began incorporating hand prints. By this time, instead of the global traveling and humanitarian pursuits that occupied much of Michelle’s time, her concentration was within her country. Michelle saw too much suffering and red tape at home and concentrated her efforts on helping local organizations. Michelle had several shows in Naples, Florida on Earth Day for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. She also showed her work in Los Angeles, CA, Dallas, TX and Boston, MA for the Greenspace Alliance, Boston Parks and the Beacon Hill Garden Tours. Ironically, Michelle wrote and produced a film in order to raise awareness for the lack of justice women receive when crimes are committed against them only to have her friend who starred in the film murdered by a repeat offender. A foundation was started in her friend’s memory and can be seen at The Ally Foundation Website.

When the US first launched it’s war on Terror and sent troops to Iraq Michelle created Caring Cards from America as an effort to support our troops. The concept was simple, whether or not citizens at home believed in war, Michelle thought it was imperative to support those who were following orders and working to defend our freedom. Each card was personalized and given to members of the armed forces in person or in care packages that were coordinated with the Marine Corps League of Naples and sent to troops in Iraq. In 2005, to further commemorate those who fought for our freedom, Michelle personalized cards for all WWII veterans who registered in Collier County and had their oral history preserved.

Today, you can be part of living history if you participate in the interactive painting process that Michelle Finnegan created called, “The Prints of Freedom.” Several of these prints can be seen or purchased online at www.FineArtAmerica.com. If you would like Michelle to create your own personal "prints" please contact her at essentialartbooks@gmail.com. To see Michelle create one of her paintings live on FOX NEWS, CLICK HERE .

Seth Greenberg welcomes Michelle Finnegan back to NY