Art From the Heart's Sweet Night on Greenwich Avenue

This week the local candy shop  on Greenwich Avenue provided a cheerful venue for a private fundraiser for "Art From the Heart," a non-profit group that organizes teen volunteers to decorate and transform bedrooms of pediatric cancer patients upon their return from hospital. 

The inspiration for the project came from Greenwich resident Karen Morgenbesser, who, along with her two daughters had a simple idea several years ago. Why not create a dream room for a youngster undergoing difficult cancer treatment?

At a support group, Morgenbesser met Dawn Ladenheim of The Circle of Care, a not-for-profit foundation Ladenheim founded in 2003 along with two other moms who met during their children's own battles with pediatric cancer.

According to Ladenheim, "The day a child is diagnosed, you go right from the doctor to the hospital with nothing. You're often far from home, family and friends with no time to pack or plan. Karen and I agreed that there was so much information to be shared with these families." 

"Karen pitched the idea of collaborating and adding to our Circle of Care programming," said Ladenheim. "It's such a wonderful compliment to our services. It it gives the kids so much hope and something to look forward to."

"It's made me appreciate my health and my life," said GHS 10th grader Gabby Liflander, who listed dream themes including Sponge Bob, Dr. Seuss, Angry Birds and even a castle-and-dragon theme. "We also decorated a doctor's office with cartoons and an all-pink theme for one girl."

"I enjoy the painting and the kids' excited reactions, when they come home," said GHS 10th grader, Allison Parker, at the fund-raiser held on June 13.

According to Morgenbesser teams of a couple dozen GHS students sign up to paint on a Saturday or Sunday of a particular project weekend. The model, which involves generous donations from local businesses of paint and supplies, has been replicated across the state. 

Anyone who would like more information about Art From the Heart can contact Morgenbesser at kegmorg@aol.com.

Ladenheim of Circle of Care can be contacted at info@thecircleofcare.org.