Quick Program Facts:
A Look at Portraits of Hope
- Founded by Brothers Ed Massey and Bernie Massey, Portraits of Hope has involved tens of thousands of children and adults in huge civic collaborations - in the U.S. and abroad – that have strikingly transformed everything from airplanes, buildings, and the New York City taxi fleet to blimps, tugboats, and NASCAR race cars.
- Portraits of Hope, a 501 (c)(3) program, merges the production and exhibition of high-profile public art with creative therapy for hospitalized children, and civic education for students of all ages.
- More than 800 hospitals, schools, and social service agencies have directly participated in Portraits of Hope projects and programmatic activities in addition to a broad array of adult civic groups.
- The majority of youth served by Portraits of Hope regularly deal with socio-economic and/or physical or medical challenges.
- Special Portraits of Hope brushes and methodologies have been developed for children and adults with physical disabilities, including telescope brushes for those in wheel chairs or attached to IVs, shoe brushes for people unable to manipulate a brush with their hands, and fruit-flavored mouth brushes for kids and adults with limited or no movement in their limbs.
- For children in hospitals, participation in POH projects serves as creative therapy and as an opportunity to engage in enriching activities with family, friends, and medical staff. Portraits of Hope often provides kids who face daily challenges of pain, isolation and fear with joyous and innovative therapeutic outlets that lets these kids be kids while accomplishing the unimaginable.
- Portraits of Hope’s core education program focuses on social issues education, with an emphasis placed on how youth would integrate their personal ambitions with broader societal objectives. During the sessions, the kids learn about the importance of education, creativity, and teamwork in achieving both individual and societal goals. They then experience the power of teamwork by engaging in collaborative sessions for the creation of the vibrant, large-scale public works.
- The spectacular, high-profile civic projects culminate in tangible artistic feats that instill a powerful sense of pride and achievement in all participants, and provide children with an opportunity to say, "I did that!” – often on the national and world stage. For many children, POH projects are the first major achievement of their lives.
- Thousands of adult volunteers have helped make the projects a reality.
- Portraits of Hope has been profiled in more than 15 languages in major media around the world.
- Every demographic group has been involved in Portraits of Hope, highlighting the power of teamwork, collaboration, and achievement for all.
- Portraits of Hope art works featuring colorful art panels have also been painted by community and civic groups to beautify public and social service environments at locations around the world, including hospitals, senior centers, homeless shelters, transitional housing, youth services facilities, and women’s shelters. Since Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Recovery School District has used Portraits of Hope panels to decorate the exteriors and interiors of the city’s transitional school buildings.
