Welcome to the
Creative
Happiness
Institute
Founded by the late Dr. David B. Axelrod, the Poetry Doctor, Creative Happiness Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, funded by donations and grants, that promotes poetry and the arts in and around Volusia County, Florida, and statewide since 2009. CHI’s motto is “Be creative, be well.”
The History of CHI
The Creative Happiness Institute, Inc. (CHI), founded by the late Dr. David B. Axelrod in 2009, is a fully volunteer 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides numerous events, opportunities and venues to support and advance community poetry in Volusia County. It depends on an all-volunteer Board and Executive Officers to plan and execute its events, network with other arts interests, and sell its books.
For over 15 years, CHI has co-sponsored events with other area non-profits and entities such as the Ormond Beach Arts District, Bethune-Cookman University, MACDeland Arts, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Cinematique, Volusia County Parks, the Florida State Poetry Association, the Ormond Memorial Arts Museum, the Daytona 500/NASCAR, and others. During this time, CHI provided poetry workshops in Volusia County schools; subsequently, Dr. Axelrod was able to identify, mentor and publish the books of seven young authors through the Volusia County Young Poets Mentoring Program. CHI also served the elderly with monthly programs at Brookdale Assisted Living. Through Dr. Axelrod’s tenure as Poet Laureate of Suffolk County, NY, and the poetry community there, CHI was able to attract respected poets for performances and workshops in Volusia County. It has and continues to sponsor numerous open microphone (mic) events to encourage aspiring poets to perform their poetry.
CHI is supported through donations from foundations, grants, community merchants, and poetry lovers. It also relies on sales of books printed through Writers Ink Press, a non-profit small press affiliated with CHI, and from the sale of Dr. Axelrod’s poetry books.
Support
Creative Happiness Institute's Mission
Volusia County poet laureate Dr. David B. Axelrod is being honored posthumously by the nonprofit he founded in 2009 to promote poetry and the arts in and around Volusia County, Florida, and across the Sunshine State. The Ormond Beach-based Creative Happiness Institute (CHI) is raising $200,000 for the new David B. Axelrod Memorial Endowment Fund. CHI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funded by donations and grants. The organization’s motto is “Be creative, be well.” CHI aims to enhance people’s lives through programs and education in poetry and the arts. Donations and grants fund CHI.
Among other activities, CHI runs a Young Poets Mentoring Program, poetry slams, readings, and events at secondary schools, colleges, local arts venues, and for seniors and veterans. The organization also operates Writers Ink Press, a five-decade-old poetry-focused independent imprint founded by Dr. David B. Axelrod, and its catalog of more than 50 titles. The organization’s board of directors includes Anthony Ehrlich, president; Emily Axelrod, vice president; Marc Davidson, treasurer; Mary-Ann Westbrook, secretary; and at-large directors Dan Axelrod, Kevin Campbell, and Kate Muldoon.
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citybiz
Creative Happiness Institute to Raise $200,000 to Support Poetry & the Arts in Volusia County & Florida
August 25, 2025
Creative Happiness Institute, a Daytona Beach-based 501(c)(3) founded by Axelrod 16 years ago to teach, mentor, and promote local poets and artists, will unveil the newly established David B. Axelrod Memorial Endowment Fund at an upcoming Axelrod tribute.
Read more about Creative Happiness Institute and Dr. David B. Axelrod.
