The Periwinkle Foundation

The mission of the Periwinkle Arts In Medicine (PAIM) program at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center (TCH) is to provide enjoyable and educational art activities that give children, young adults, families and caregivers affected by pediatric cancer and blood disorders the opportunity for self-expression, empowerment and healing through the arts. Established in 1997, the Arts In Medicine program at TCH is an integral part of the Centers commitment to providing comprehensive care in a child-centered environment to meet the emotional, social, educational and medical needs of patients. Through partnerships with more than 20 local artists and arts organizations, PAIM is able to connect the community's vibrant arts scene with patients and their families who are enduring hours, if not days, weeks or months of a grueling hospital routine to provide daily opportunities for art experiences in the out-patient clinic, the in-patient unit and Bone Marrow Transplant unit at bedside. Through expanded partnerships, PAIM has begun programming at all four TCH Centers in the state of Texas: Houston Main Campus, Katy West Campus, The Woodlands Campus and the Vannie Cook Children's Cancer Clinic in McAllen.Some key components of the Periwinkle Arts In Medicine Program include:The Splendid Review A team of 3 professional writers from Writers in the Schools perform weekly workshops at all three Houston area TCH campuses (Main, The Woodlands and West) in the outpatient clinic as well as on the inpatient unit and the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit to help children and their families create short stories, poetry, autobiographies and illustrations. These works are published in a quarterly anthology titled The Splendid Review. In 2020, over 200 patients and siblings participated in this workshop, publishing 350 poems, short stories and autobiographies. Since inception, more than 2,500 pieces have been published in The Splendid Review.Stop Motion Animation Workshops Since 2014, The Periwinkle Foundation has teamed up with Aurora Picture Show to provide monthly Stop Motion Animation Workshops at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers.Making A Mark - An exhibition of art and creative writing by children touched by cancer and blood disorders at TCH. Making A Mark is open to children from treatment centers all over the world. In 2020, more than 150 pieces of individual art and creative writing were exhibited at Texas Children's Hospital, which is the first stop on the exhibit's journey as it travels year-round to other venues including: TCH West (Katy); The Woodlands Children's Museum; The Glassell School; HEB, San Felipe; The Houstonian Club; McAllen International Airport; Houston Hobby Airport; and Intercontinental Airport where it is viewed by over 11 million people. In addition to individual submissions, Periwinkle partners with a local, professional artist to host a series of workshops with patients and families to create a collaborative, visual arts piece to be featured in the annual Making A Mark exhibit which has now displayed over 6,800 works of art since inception. The 2020 Featured Guest Artist was Sarah Fisher who worked with patients to create We See You, a collaborative piece that celebrates the wisdom and joy of children as well as the beauty and mystery of nature. Boredom is the unspoken side effect of cancer treatment. Each stroke of the paintbrush drifted me into a world full of colors and possibilities. a Making A Mark Artist.Postcards From The Road This program encourages visitors of the Making A Mark exhibit to send personal messages to the young artists. The postcards, mailed by The Periwinkle Foundation, allow children to see how their art is impacting others in the community. Each year, thousands of postcards are mailed to uplift and encourage the artists. Two viewers wrote: Your tree and message are beautiful. You are correct there is nothing we can't achieve if we do it together. Stay bright in the world. I am a singer/songwriter and have seen how powerful art can be in the world! Nice job! Today as I was passing through Hobby Airport and I needed a little inspiration. Well, I certainly got it. Your painting is beautiful and your life story inspired me to be more thankful."In the wake of the COVID-19, the following programs were developed to continue providing a Community of Healing to patients and their families in the most difficult of times.AIM (Arts In Medicine delivered through technology) virtually connects Periwinkle's professional Arts Partners directly to in-patient children at the Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center. Current Arts Partners conducting AIM programming include Purple Songs Can Fly, Writers in the Schools, and Houston Symphony Community Embedded Musicians. Creativity Connected, an interactive publication, is scheduled to be sent bi-monthly to 1,500 Periwinkle artists, authors and camper families featuring creative arts programs curated and delivered by Periwinkle Arts In Medicine community Arts Partners.Periwinkle Presents: Crafts with Carol and Art with Allegra, a bi-monthly live arts and craft segment hosted on ZTV, a closed circuit television station available in all Texas Children's Hospital inpatient rooms at Main Campus. To accompany each segment, 50 craft kits are prepared and delivered to patients.

Camp YOLO - In its 22nd year, Camp YOLO (You Only Live Once) addresses the unique challenges faced by adolescents living with cancer, renal, cardiac, rheumatology or HIV-related illnesses. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spring YOLO session was cancelled. Because this camp was scheduled early in the onset of COVID-19, no virtual camp was provided. The fall Camp YOLO was held as a virtual camp over a weekend which engaged 59 teen campers. Teens plugged in each morning to get the day started with fun energizers, and to join in cabin group conversation. Later, campers connected with staff and counselors via Zoom for activity sessions to complete together using the materials in their box, or items found in their home. Activities such as Minute To Win It, Arts & Crafts and Bingo were facilitated using items provided in the Camp Box.

Camp Periwinkle - Since 1983, The Periwinkle Foundation has provided a week-long camp for children with cancer and their siblings. In 2020, due to COVID-19 and for the protection of our campers and volunteers, Camp Periwinkle was replaced by a virtual camp, Simply Camp Periwinkle, engaging 190 campers across hundreds of homes and hospital beds through live and pre-recorded activities. For the first time, twenty in-patient children at Texas Children's Hospital participated virtually at Camp Periwinkle. Campers plugged in each morning to get the day started with fun energizers, and to join in cabin group conversation. Later, campers connected with staff and counselors via Zoom for activity sessions to complete together using the materials in their box, or items found in their home. Activities such as Minute To Win It (a game of 60 second challenges to accomplish silly tasks), science experiments, and Bingo were facilitated using items provided in the Camp Box, while other activities such as an at-home scavenger hunt, talent show, and build a fort activities engaged campers to explore their own surroundings, gifts, and talents to connect in the activity.