The Unterberg Children's Hospital has introduced a new arts-and-crafts program on the inpatient Pediatrics Unit thanks to 18-year-old Katelyn Kearney of Rumson, who created "Paint a Smile on a Child's Face" to raise the spirits of the patients and help them to pass the time in a fun and creative way.

The program gives hospitalized children and their family the opportunity to participate in a host of arts-n-crafts activities. Katelyn and volunteers Brooke Kearney, 12, Emma Honald, 11, and Elise Reynolds, 17, all of Rumson, come to the hospital on an ongoing basis and make fun crafts such as rubber band bracelets, spin art Frisbees, airbrushed T-shirts, make-your-own volcano, airbrushed posters with inspirational words on them, and paper bag scrapbooks.

She raised the money for this program through bake sales and partnered with Look What I Can Do, a Shrewsbury art studio that encorporates learning and fun for children, to offer supporters the opportunity to put their names on a paper paint brush that are displayed at the studio in exchange for a donation. In addition to her fund-raising efforts, she has been graciously sponsored by Tricia Schaeffer, the owner of "Look What I Can Do," where Katelyn provides airbrushing classes as a part of her fund-raising efforts.

With the money she raised she was able to purchase an airbrush and spin art machine that she brings with her to the hospital.

"The children and their family love this program," says certified Child Life Specialist Kristin Kuhi. "She has made such a positive impact that she received a generous donation from the family of one of our patients treated on Pediatrics."

To learn more about giving opportunities at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, call the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation at 732-923-6886, or visit www.monmouthfoundation.org. To learn more about Look What I Can Do, call 732-212-1002.