In celebration of National Arts in Education Week and commemorating 24 years since the final broadcast of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, renowned artist Tony Roko will collaborate with Community Financial Credit Union Student Fellow Finn Wallace to create a special portrait of Fred Rogers. The project is presented in partnership with Community Financial Credit Union and its President & CEO, Tansley Stearns.The official unveiling of the Fred Rogers portrait will take place during National Arts in Education Week, Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Community Financial Credit Union Headquarters, 500 S. Harvey Street, Plymouth, MI.
The collaborative artwork will honor the timeless influence of Fred Rogers, whose commitment to creativity, kindness, and imagination continues to inspire generations of children, families, and educators. Once completed, the portrait will be displayed publicly, serving both as a tribute to Mr. Rogers’ legacy and as a reminder of the vital role art plays in education and community life.
“Mr. Rogers taught us that learning goes beyond textbooks—it’s about compassion, understanding, and self-expression,” said Roko. “Working alongside a Community Financial Credit Union Student Fellow to bring his image to life is the perfect way to celebrate his message during National Arts in Education Week.”
Roko also reflected on the importance of showcasing the piece in Plymouth: “This portrait is not just about honoring Mr. Rogers—it’s about celebrating the power of art to connect people. Plymouth has such a vibrant and supportive art community, and it’s incredibly meaningful to share this work here. This city proves every day that when you invest in creativity, you invest in the heart of a community.”
Community Financial Credit Union’s support for this project underscores its deep commitment to nurturing education, creativity, and community connection.
“At Community Financial, we believe that for-impact organizations who invest in the arts speak directly to who we are as humans. The arts inspire imagination, connection, and hope,” said Tansley Stearns, President & CEO of Community Financial Credit Union. “This project is especially meaningful because it links the role of a best friend, embodied by Mr. Rogers, with the work we do in more than 55 school-run credit unions across Michigan. That connection between schools, creativity, and learning is one of the reasons I felt called to serve here as President & CEO in my home state of Michigan. We owe it to our communities to invest in the holistic well-being of our children.”
For Student Fellow Finn Wallace, the opportunity is especially meaningful. “Being able to work with an artist like Tony Roko on such an important project is something I’ll carry with me forever,” Wallace said. “Mr. Rogers showed kids like me that our voices matter and that creativity is a way to connect with others. I hope this portrait inspires people the way he inspired me.”
The unveiling will be free and open to the public, inviting community members, educators, students, and families to join in celebrating the enduring lessons of kindness and creativity inspired by Mr. Rogers.
For More Information: www.artofroko.com
Community Financial Credit Union
Community Financial Credit Union is a for-impact, full-service financial institution headquartered in Plymouth, MI with 15 branches in southeast and northern Michigan, over 340 employees, and $1.5 billion in assets. For almost 75 years, Community Financial has been committed to giving back to the communities it serves. With the mission of creating joy and igniting Michiganders’ impossible dreams, Community Financial fosters meaningful connections and delivers innovative products and services that empower its members at any stage of life through light and dark times.
Art Foundation
Art Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 2017 by Tony Roko to provide high-level arts training and arts entrepreneurial training to the most underserved populations of Metro Detroit.
Art Foundation has two primary curricula that are designed to encourage individuality, support creative growth, and reinforce self-worth. Art Foundation is working to build community art initiatives that are designed to help improve access to cultural capital at the community level, most notably through the current Plymouth ArtWalk project.
