When children are sick and must visit the doctor or stay in the hospital, occupying their minds with activities and other stimulation helps to ease their pain. At the end of last school year, Signature Healthcare partnered with the Brockton Public School system and its art students to bring colorful artwork to the walls of exam rooms and pediatric inpatient stay areas. On Tuesday, October 25, the students were invited into Brockton Hospital for a ceremony to honor their donations and view their art on display.

The idea for the project came from pediatric nurse Lynn O’Donnell, who has children of her own, and thought art like the drawings and paintings her children brought home could cheer up her patients at the hospital. Hilary Lovell, Health Marketing Coordinator for Signature Healthcare, worked with Sarah Richards, Coordinator of Art for K-12 at the Brockton Public Schools to make the project a reality.

Richards asked high school-aged children to create animal related artwork in their classes, and also chose art from the younger grades via an art show the schools held at the end of the 2010-2011 school season. Students were asked if they would like to donate their art to decorate the hospital. She then took frames supplied by Signature Healthcare, and worked with high school students to mat and frame the colorful drawing and painting masterpieces. In all, more than 35 pieces of art were framed and hung throughout the second floor Pediatric Unit and Children & Youth Clinics at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital.