Painting towards the Gold: Birmingham Girl Earns Gold Award with the Power of Creativity

Kelly recently earned her Gold Award by facilitating painting classes for cancer patients and their families who stayed at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Birmingham. The goal of her project was to use the patients’ artwork to create greeting cards for the American Cancer Society as a personal way to thank donors, sponsors and volunteers. Another objective of the weekly painting sessions was to provide the patients with a fun and relaxing activity at an otherwise stressful time in their lives. Kelly solicited a local art supply store and printer to get painting supplies and printing services donated. The project was so successful that Hope Lodge plans to continue it for years to come. Kelly was grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the patients’ lives. “In spite of the pain and hardship of cancer,” she said, “they were still thankful for what they did have and enjoyed the experience we provided.”

Kelly is a senior at Oak Mountain High School and the daughter of Patrick and Peggy in Birmingham.