Phil Yeh founded Cartoonists Across America & The World in 1985 after meeting Wally "Famous" Amos, the National Spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America. Wally suggested that Phil use his cartooning skills and sense of humor to promote literacy, the arts, and creativity. Phil had 3 young sons at the time (now all grown and all artists!) and he knew from his own background growing up in Southwest Los Angeles the power that reading and the arts had in his own life. At that meeting with Wally, Phil promised to tour the world for 15 years until the year 2000.

As of the fall 2000, Phil's small but incredibly hard working band of artists have painted more than 1000 colorful murals in 49 states in the US, 3 Canadian provinces, Mexico, Hungary, England, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Cayman Islands. The murals have been painted on foamcore board (to travel through schools and libraries), billboards, city buses, trucks, vans, book mobiles and walls. They have been painted with children of all ages and a lot of wonderful adults!

In addition, Phil speaks to hundreds of thousands of students and folks of all ages about the importance of literacy and the arts in all societies and the real ways that the arts can change everyone's lives.

In May of 1999, Phil was honored by the small town of Pittston, Pennsylvania for his work in literacy. Pittston's famous Pac Readers (5th grade students who sing wonderful songs about reading) came out and sang two special songs written about Phil's characters and about his Cartoonists Across America tour. Most of the town was there for a wonderful evening.

Pittston's Mayor gave Phil the key to the city and the new mural painted the day before in the center of town was displayed as well. It was a night to remember. The odd thing was that Phil had never been to Pittston in his 15 years of touring! He had grown up in Los Angeles, a little village on the west coast.

Word got out that Pittston had honored Phil's work and within days (we aren't making this up!), Phil was told that The Los Angeles County Public Library Foundation was honoring Phil for his work in literacy at Sony Pictures Studios on September 12, 1999. Phil would be one of the first three California Laureates honored along with actor Edward James Olmos and Dr. Fred Kort.

The late Steve Allen was the Master of Ceremonies and Phil's friend and mentor Wally Amos flew in from Hawaii to present Phil with his own bronze Alphie the Bookworm! It was a day to remember. In his acceptance of the honor, Phil joked that now that Los Angeles was recognizing his work, perhaps he might be able to actually do some huge mural painting events in Los Angeles! Of course, the tour was supposed to end in the year 2000 but in a mad moment of passion (and much to the horror of his family who rarely sees him), Phil pledged that he would stay on the road for another 10 years (until the year 2010). Phil shared his dream that Los Angeles would be the site for a huge event in 2001.

The Los Angeles Times must have been listening. On April 28 and 29 at UCLA, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will host Cartoonists Across America & The World for a mural painting for the City of the Angels. The slogan for the mural will be "Building a World of Readers, Artists, and Dreamers!" This UCLA event draws more than 100,000 people and has become one of the truly great literacy celebrations in the United States.

Cartoonists Across America is inviting artists from all fields (we especially need tv and movie stars to attract the national media) to join us in creating a work of art that will inspire people of all ages to read, to be creative, and to dream.

For Phil, the event is a homecoming. He grew up in the City of Angels and he has a deep sense of passion and dedication of sharing his love for reading and the arts to all people. We hope that you will join us in making our free book distribution and mural painting a huge success.

Contact Phil directly at phil@ideaship.com or call (805) 735-5134. His 19 year middle son Jesse, has been given the title of Vice-President of special events and he's working with his dad on making this event a smashing success.