Earlier this month, 35 Edwards Lifesciences employees volunteered part of their day to decorate Bedside Adventure Kits for the children of Discovery Arts, as part of their ongoing "Strengthen Our Community” outreach program. Obviously there are a lot of talented and passionate artists at the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. They donated enough art supplies, then decorated and filled more than 50 kits.

The entire cast and crew of Discovery Arts would like to extend a Warm Heartfelt Thank You to all of the Employees of Edwards Lifesciences who got creative for Discovery Arts ... You have brought joy into the life of a child. We hope you had fun!

Edwards Lifesciences' volunteers for this project included: John Bain, Nancy Boyd, Joyce Casella, Nicole Casella, Ginna Cuervo, Hang Dinh, Jessica Donovan, Kristy Faciane, Leslie Finney, April Frantzen, Diana Gonzalez, Nanette Henderson, Elsa Ibarbol, Priti Jhaveri, Jade Jourdan, Becky Kibbey, Laura Kibbey, Ric Kolibar, Frances Luong, Patrice Norton, Nicole Pascua, Jayshri Patel, Sharidan Railsback, Ashkan Rasooli, Bonnie Robinson, Karrie Rodriguez, Yolanda Saldana, Steve Shin, Taylor Strand, Andy Spilsbury Walker, Brian Williamson, Gayle Wills, and Amanda Zotinca.

... is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company partners with clinicians to develop innovative technologies in the areas of structural heart disease and critical care monitoring that enable them to save and enhance lives.

Edwards Lifesciences partners with physicians to innovate products designed to help patients live longer, healthier and more productive lives. Since developing the first heart valve in 1958, they have continued to meaningfully advance heart valve therapy and, more than 50 years later, remain the global leader in this field. In addition they also lead the development of new investigative technologies designed for the non-surgical replacement of heart valves.

Our daughter was diagnosed with an adult-form of leukemia when she was 22 mos old. We had a 3 yr old daughter at the time to care for as well. The volunteers at Discovery Arts brought a lot of joy into our month-long hospital stays (for over 6 months!)...coming every Thursday with costumes, face paint, craft projects, music and big, bright smiles!! Jillian would dance and sing and play her little heart out, making everyone forget about her cancer for a little while. My other daughter was treated so special each time she would enter the playroom with Jillian. One day, Both if the girls were given brand new tap shoes because they showed an interest in them...they still have them (5 years later)! Jillian's closet was FULL of dress up outfits from the time she spent with Discovery Arts...so many projects and photos adorn my house--reminders of the positives of living in the hospital. The love Discovery Arts volunteers give freely and enthusiastically to children with cancer and their families is beyond measure!!! 

~ Michelle, Jillian's Mom

Thank you Michelle for the heartwarming review on Great Non-profits. We all love Jillian and her sister too! We hope Jilly is happy and very very healthy. From the cast and crew at Discovery Arts.

Spent December of 2003 in Miller Children's hospital when my son had his 1st brain tumor surgery. Every day was physical therapy and occupational therapy and speech therapy, mandatory school work, nasty medications, needle pokes and IV woes - and most days Yay! a fun Discovery Arts project appropriate to a 5 year old with limited fine motor skills. Ten years out we still put on the Christmas hats he made, his art decorates our tree and we are reminded that we often had a ball in the middle of all that trauma. For a few years Miller Children's was almost a second home. Discovery Arts was a vital part of making hospital stays positive, happy experiences. One of my most precious possessions is tiny sculpture of our family made by another patient in for his chemo. My son is well and happy now - thanks to the great care he got at Miller Children's hospital and thanks to the wonderful art therapy of Discovery Arts. ~ Bobby's Mom

Thank you Bobby's Mom for your heart touching review on Great Non Profits ...
From the cast and crew of Discovery Arts!

It's simple why I love Discovery Arts!  I became intrigued and fascinated with this special organization all from a sweet, yet magical voice in the dark!  Sitting in a blackened theatre in downtown Chicago, just prior to the start of Peter Pan, the voice of the talented Cathy Rigby McCoy instructed and informed excited children of all ages of the standard rules and regulations of the performance. 

The child-like voice in the dark included specifics of how to exit the theatre safely and the restrictions of photography, phone etiquette, etc.  However, what was captivating was the announcement that Peter Pan would be available after the performance to sign autographs and posters to directly benefit Discovery Arts!  If Peter Pan loved and supported Discovery Arts, we knew the organization was special and we had to be a part of it.  

And so it began…

While the core business of The Huestudio + Company is to create experiences + events that are memorable, innovative and magically joyful, many clients and friends of The Huestudio + Company encounter and face difficult situations that are devastating, traumatic and life-altering.  Some have children that are in varied situations, similar to the ill children that Discovery Arts serves.  We listen to their voices and their stories intently, and in appreciation and in honor of our clients and friends, we searched for distinctive USA-made products that would align to and directly support organizations that make a difference in our world while giving back. 

Our seven (7) offerings spotlighting Discovery Arts are just the beginning and we look forward to presenting more as we expand our offerings through The Shops at The Huestudio + Company.  In alignment with Discovery Art's wish, our greatest wish is to present items and offerings to lift the spirit and make people's journey's a little easier and a lot brighter. 

One of our favorite quotes by Marcel Proust states, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."  View the possibilities of supporting Discovery Arts, just like we did at The Huestudio + Company, and see the benefits through the lens of children; children who are inspired, have fun through Arts Adventures, dream their dreams, and heal their souls from an experience by Discovery Arts! 

Give today at www.discoveryarts.org and shop today at www.thehuestudio.com/shop.  You'll be glad you did!  xoxo

Jeff Hughes
Founding Partner, Chief Creative Officer & Principal Designer
The Huestudio + Company
Mount Prospect, Illinois 

I made my way through the hallways of Miller Children’s Hospital, Long Beach. My crutches made my migration slow and awkward but I found the blue door, as instructed. I opened it rather clumsily because my foot was broken and I was greeted by a woman in a tutu and a wig who smiled, raised her hands and said, “You must be Stephanie! Welcome to Discovery Arts!” I had arrived at one of the inpatient playrooms, where all the children were wearing costumes and I was about to start my first day as a volunteer for Discovery Arts.

"What I witnessed on that first day made me fall in love with healing people through art. "

Discovery Arts is a non-profit organization that brings the arts to children during their stay in the hospital, some of whom are battling life-threatening diseases. My love for creating art, facilitating art, and helping people was what drew me to this organization in the first place. I tucked my crutches in the corner of the room, put on an apron and asked how I could help. The children had already started that day’s project, which included painting picture frames and taking Polaroid’s of each of them in their costumes. I sat down to a table full of children and a few parents, diligently working. Some children had IV poles and some had bald heads. What really mattered, though, was that their faces were lit up with excitement about their new costumes and the fresh coat of paint on their wooden frames. Their smiles transcended the harsh reality of their hospital setting. This was a normal Thursday in the playroom when Discovery Arts was present.

What I witnessed on that first day made me fall in love with healing people through art. My heart warmed at the sight of those children enjoying their time and relishing just being kids, despite their desperate situations. This is when I absolutely knew that my future lay in Expressive Arts Therapy. I want to help children heal and express themselves through art and music. Every Thursday after that experience you could find me decked out in a tutu and tiara, singing and dancing along with the kids.

~ Stephanie Sabins