Splash of the Week: Another EPIC Splash!

Thank you to The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation

Thank you to Splashes of Hope Board member Peter Klein for facilitating their incredibly generous donation!

Patient Experience at Huntington Hospital

"This thank you is long overdue... But, it felt right to send this to you on the one year anniversary that we were touched by your organization. It was at this time last year, I was sitting in a hospital crib with my beautiful 18 month old son. Thinking back to that time brings tears to my eyes, because it was one of the only times in my life that I felt completely helpless.

Our son, Tyler had been acting lethargic throughout the day on 12/30/2013. At the time, I monitored him closely and just assumed he was coming down with a virus or the flu. It was not until I noticed his stomach retracting and breathing becoming labored that I became alarmed and rushed him to Huntington hospital. When we arrived, his oxygen was at 80% and the doctor informed us that she was concerned about how weak and lethargic he appeared. She informed us that if there were no improvements made within the hour that they would have to test him for meningitis. I remember my heart sinking to the ground and a feeling of crippling fear overcoming my entire body. The next few hours would prove to be the longest hours of my life. But, by God's grace, tests revealed that Tyler did not have meningitis. He had the RSV virus which in many ways mimicked the symptoms of Meningitis.

Tyler was admitted to the hospital for four nights where he was quarantined while receiving oxygen and steroid treatments. My husband and I were with him around the clock and I can't even count how many deals with God I made for those few days. They were the longest four days of our lives.

As I sat in his hospital crib with him, we would look up at the ceiling and admire painted murals directly above us. I would point them out to him and for a few moments we would share a smile together and forget that we were in the hospital. At the time, I remember thinking to myself " I wonder who painted these beautiful murals?"

On our second day in the hospital, when I was having a moment of sadness, one of the nurses walked in with a life size stuffed puppy dog, coloring book and monkey puppet. The look of excitement on Tyler's face as they handed over that stuffed animal was priceless. I remember crying tears of joy as I watched him cuddle that dog. At the time, I had no idea who could have sent such thoughtful gifts to us. That is until, I looked at the puppet.. There in colorful writing, it read 'Splashes of Hope.' The nurse proceeded to tell me that this wonderful organization donates toys to the hospital as well as paints the murals on the walls in the pediatric unit.

Throughout our time at the hospital, Tyler was showered with beautiful gifts from this incredible organization and it was because of their generosity, compassion, thoughtfulness, commitment and dedication, that we were able to get through those four days.

Simply put.. Splashes of Hope changed our lives... Forever... Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving our beautiful baby his smile back while we were in the hospital. Thank you for taking the time to care.. Thank you for delivering on your promise: " Splashes of Hope" is a non-profit organization dedicated to transform healthcare environments, enrich and facilitate healing through artwork.

We will forever be grateful for all you have done for our family! You are truly incredible..... Love the Okin Family"

Friend on the Mend

Please sponsor the printing of Splashes of Hope's "Friend on the Mend" coloring and activity book so we can impact the lives of more families like the Okins!

$600 sponsors 100 books

$1,200 sponsors 200 books

$3,000 sponsors 500 books

Click the PayPal button to donate online,

or make checks payable to Splashes of Hope.

PO Box 537 Huntington NY 11743

THANK YOU SANDY ROMANO!

Splash artist Sandy Romano keeps busy every Thursday hand-painting the children at Stony Brook University Medical Center's Children's Cancer Clinic. This weekly program is sponsored by the Laurence W. Levine Foundation and provides many children a bright spot of joy during their chemo treatments. Thank you to the Levine Foundation and to Sandy for their generous dedication in making smiles possible on the little patients at Stony Brook. We love you!

Mount Sinai Hospital Murals Completed!

Sponsored by the Laurence W. Levine Foundation

The Mount Sinai Hospital, Pediatric Radiology mural installation is coming up this week and Sandy Romano stopped by to drop off her 2 amazing underwater, way-finding panels.

Thank you Sandy (and John) for your hard work in designing the layouts, painting the beautiful murals, varnishing and transporting the murals in the freezing cold castle! We could not do what we do without the incredible love and support from folks like you! Your enthusiasm and constant willingness to work hard is what keeps us "Splashing It Forward".

On Saturday, new Splashes of Hope volunteer artist, Kelly Beekman, delivered her three 1' x 1' murals to the Castle. These fun and whimsical pieces of art will hang in the Pediatric Faculty Practice Unit, thanks once again, to our generous sponsors, the Laurence W. Levine Foundation. And welcome to the team, Kelly!

Edible Works of Art Sold to Raise Funds for Splashes of Hope

Pictured above are Splashes of Hope artist Sandy Romano, Vincent Van Monkey, and Sandy's wonderful cousin Sue Simon. Sue created beautiful cookies that looked almost too good to eat (not according to Vincent Van Monkey!) and raised funds for Splashes of Hope. Her company matched the funding and we are so grateful for the generosity and action taken by people like Sue! Thank you.

Karen Noack, Artist, Helping to Transform the Lives of Inmates Through Service to Others

Program sponsored by Splashes of Hope Vice President of the Board, Theresa Santmann.

Artist Karen Noack is currently working on a project with Splashes of Hope and the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead. The end result of this art/teaching project will be murals of open windows and peaceful vistas. These will be installed in the examination, treatment and counseling rooms of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Utica, NY. Karen is spending time each week with a group of female inmates (youth and women in the DWI pod) to teach them how to paint and, hopefully, give them a different perspective on life. Ultimately, this project will allow the women to work together to create murals for the NCMEC and to improve their facility for the children they serve.

Visit Karen's blog to keep up to date with her experiences here: http://kjsnoack.com

Congratulations to Splashes of Hope's Secretary

Christine Gagnon!

Christine Gagnon

EisnerAmper, LLP

EisnerAmper Senior Audit Manager Christine Gagnon's parents, Steven and Teresa Barnett, were a significant influence in her life as she grew up, and when it came time for her to choose a career, it was no different. "My parents always joked about how detail-oriented I was and how I was good with numbers," Gagnon said. "Accounting seemed like a logical career path." At EisnerAmper, Gagnon provides services to public and private clients in a variety of industries including retail, manufacturing, entertainment, software, publications and financial services. She is responsible for all phases of an audit, including planning, organization, supervision and review of the fieldwork. Working out of the firm's Syosset location, she specializes in audit and assurance and financial services and working with hedge funds and retailers. Gagnon also assists in the training and mentoring of staff and is involved in the recruitment of new employees.

Her career has had many peaks, but Gagnon describes passing her certified public accountant exam as her proudest achievement. She has a great appreciation for the work done by Splashes of Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating art to transform spaces such as children's hospitals to facilitate healing. As Splashes of Hope's board secretary, she is active with the organization, participating in fundraisers and planning sessions, including working on its annual gala, and personally donating art supplies and promoting Splashes of Hope throughout the business community. Gagnon is in charge of coordinating EisnerAmper's annual EisnerAmper Cares volunteer week for the Long Island office and recently organized an EisnerAmper team of 12 employees to help Splashes of Hope clean up its studios and prime mural boards for final art applications. This support has helped Splashes of Hope more efficiently fulfill its mission. Gagnon earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Marist College. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Gagnon and her husband, Sean, have two children, Brielle and Tyler. While she is interested in helping EisnerAmper's Long Island office expand, Gagnon remains focused on her family. "I would like to help grow the Long Island practice at EisnerAmper while continuing to be a role model to my children," she said.

Upcoming Mural Projects

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Utica NY through the Youth Initiative Mural Art Program at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility Riverhead, NY sponsored by Theresa Santmann
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill-Cornell Medical Center Burn Unit NYC sponsored by Framingham Foundation
Glen Cove Hospital, NY sponsored by Astoria Bank
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY self-sponsored
Pederson-Krag Center, Huntington NY, sponsored by Macy's
Saratoga Center for the Family, NY, sponsored by ASIS International Long Island
ACLD Alan & Ellen Speigel Children's Center, Bay Shore NY sponsored by Tri-ing for Kids!!!
Hospice Care Network- South Shore, Bay Shore NY sponsored by Tri-ing for Kids!!!
University of New Mexico Children's Hospital Heart Center Albuquerque NM, sponsored by Robert & Dana Bigler
Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Center Stony Brook NY, sponsored by Suffolk County Cultural Omnibus Grant 2015 & Legistator William Spencer.
St. Martin de Porres High School Far Rockaway NY, sponsored by FREE: Family Residences and Essential Enterprises Inc.

Splashes of Hope HQ:

"The Castle" at Coindre Hall

101 Browns Road

Huntington NY 11743

Office and Art Studio space provided by Suffolk County Parks through a work exchange program with Splashes of Hope.

Splashes Of Hope

Mailing address: PO Box 537 Huntington NY 11743

Office: 631-424-8230

Email: info@splashesofhope.org

Splashes of Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to designing and creating customized mural artwork in hospital environments & social service facilities to assist in the healing process.

www.splashesofhope.org

Thank you for all of your support!

LOVE, THE SPLASH TEAM

Heather Bugge, Founder & Executive Director

Diana Fogarty, Director of Operations

Sarah Bacher, Mural Artist & Project Manager

Samantha Califano, Administrative Assistant

February 20, 2015

Greetings!

Over the past two snowy weeks here at the Splashes of Hope headquarters, our team has been busy painting, planning and celebrating the wonderful things that come our way every day at our magical Castle! And we have had good reason to celebrate, thanks to generous foundations, local and national businesses and individuals who have made donations.

Splashes of Hope Board Member Bob Bigler and his wife Dana have announced their sponsorship of an exciting new Splash project at the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital Heart Center! Thank you so much for the opportunity to create ten colorful hot air balloons to the unit for way-finding!

'Splashing It Forward: A Muralist Experience'

Program sponsored by Splashes of Hope Annual Appeal 2014

Thank you to all participants that came out for our first session! Our artists at Splashes of Hope had a great time working with our new volunteers and enjoying the wonderful artwork that was produced.

On Saturday, February 14th, Splashes of Hope muralists hosted their first artist training program in the art studio at Coindre Hall. 'Splashing it Forward: A Muralist Experience' is a series of sessions mentored by Splashes of Hope senior mural artists, who instruct volunteer artists to paint in the various styles of Splashes of Hope murals. The sessions will allow the artists to engage in the tasks and responsibilities that Splashes of Hope muralists experience in the art studio on a daily basis.

We began the first session by painting open sky scenes with whimsical clouds, playful birds, and butterflies. Starting with a light blue background, the artists proceeded to added depths of clouds, then its sky characters...and everyone did a BEAUTIFUL job!

All of the artists excelled at handling the paints and brushes, while maintaining the integrity of the studio. Thank you!

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The premier goal of these sessions is to build a more active and high energy volunteer base for Splashes of Hope. We have expanded our outreach for volunteer support by inviting positive, upbeat community members, those who also understand and appreciate our mission.

The second goal is to donate the completed artwork produced by the volunteers to healthcare facilities throughout the United States. Since its founding in 1996, Splashes of Hope has created murals for facilities across 25 states, from New York to California. These sessions aim to bring Splashes of Hope to all 50 states by sending the remaining "unsplashed" states the donated murals!

During the sessions, participants are painting various scenes onto ceiling tiles.

Splashes of Hope utilizes ceiling tiles as a cost-effective and efficient way to produce and transport murals. Uplifting scenes painted on ceiling tiles are installed above patients' beds in varied medical settings. The murals can be used as a tool for distraction or pain management for patients, especially for those going through medical procedures or waking from anesthesia.

(example of an installed ceiling tile in an examination room at Queens Hospital, NY)

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Sessions are being held on specified Saturdays from 1pm-4pm twice a month until June.
They are free of charge (suggested donation of $5 for supplies).

The next session is on February 21st at 1pm. To join, please call 631-424-8230, email info@splashesofhope.org or text 917-545-5292.

RSVP as soon as possible to join the sessions; seats are limited!

The session will be continuing with our sky themes and adding other details such as shapes in the clouds and hot air balloons. We at Splashes of Hope are looking forward to the progression of the sessions, its new artists and the resulting flow of creativity!

Join the fun at Lands End in Sayville to support Splashes of Hope!

This year will feature fine dining, live music by The Gail Storm Band, swing dancing, Chinese Auction, and a silent art auction. All proceeds go to Splashes of Hope to continue our mission of aiding in the healing process through art. A facility will be chosen by our Man of the Year and will be splashed using a portion of the proceeds.

Tickets are $150 and can be purchased below!

For more information on how to purchase tables of 6,8 or 14
or if you would like to sponsor the event please

contact Samantha Califano by calling 631-424-8230

DEDICATION CEREMONY

February 24th at 10am

Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip

Another EPIC Splash!

Splashes of Hope has created more panels for South Shore Child Guidance Center!

A 4' x 8' hot air balloon and a banner emblazoned with SSCG's name were self sponsored by South Shore Child Guidance Center, while the Teenager Waiting Room's splash was sponsored by Meryl Schlingheyde (employee at SSCGC) in memory of her husband.

Sarah Baecher, Mural Artist & Project Manager has created wonderful, colorful worlds for the students at the South Shore Child Guidance Center. As the students walk up the stairs, they are greeted by joyful, realistic characters rising in the hot air balloon---what a fantastic way to journey through this center!

On the left is the bare wall at the top of the main staircase before the Splash, and on the right hangs the bright and welcoming mural!

Meryl Schlingheyde and her daughter Catherine standing in front of the beautiful hot air balloon mural.

Catherine, Meryl, Sarah Baecher and Heather Buggee in front of the wonderful world painted in memory of Meryl's husband. This panel was installed in the Teenager Waiting Room, so that the viewers may feel a sense of wonder, calm, and joy instead of anxiety.