PERIWINKLE FOUNDATION
3400 Bissonnet Suite 185, Houston, TX 77005 www.periwinklefoundation.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: Periwinkle Camps, Arts and Survivor programs positively change the lives of children, young adults, and families who are challenged by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and are cared for at Texas Children's Hospital.

Periwinkle programs are life-altering and directly impact how well patients battle their illnesses. Many former campers return as counselors and many families stay involved because our programs helped them through the emotional roller coaster of treatment.

Since 1983, The Periwinkle Foundation has provided a week-long camp for children with cancer and blood disorders and their siblings. Periwinkle brought 189 campers, ages 7 to 15, to Camp Periwinkle in 2019. Campers came from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Many would not have the means to attend a summer camp even if they were well. Periwinkle provides clothing, bedding and toiletries for any camper in need. Sad faces turned bright in a week packed with a month's worth of amazing experiences. With the help of more than 200 enthusiastic volunteers, cancer was forgotten, children realized they were not alone in their circumstances, siblings felt loved and parents had an entire week to address their own emotional healing.

The mission of the Periwinkle Arts In Medicine (PAIM) program at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers (TXCH) 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 TXCH 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 TXCH 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 TXCH 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 2019, over 300 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.Periwinkle Days - Each month, The Periwinkle Foundation hosts Periwinkle Days, partnering with performing artists through Young Audiences of Houston to engage children and their families in the clinic through artistic performances. In 2019, over 400 patients and their siblings participated in Periwinkle Days.Stop Motion Animation Workshops Since 2014, The Periwinkle Foundation has teamed up with Aurora Picture Show to provide monthly Stop Motion Animation Workshop 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 TXCH Centers Centers. Making A Mark is open to children from treatment centers all over the world. In 2019, more than 300 pieces of individual art and creative writing were exhibited at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), 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 2019 Featured Guest Artist was Claire Drennan. 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 cant 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 its 21st year, Camp YOLO (You Only Live Once) addresses the unique challenges faced by adolescents living with cancer, renal, cardiac, rheumatology or HIV-related illnesses. While most teens are worrying about how many text messages they can send, teens with serious illnesses are confronting very real life and death issues and seemingly unending hospital routines. For two weekends each year, these young people have a chance to rejuvenate with others who understand their struggles, anxieties and fears. Campers learn teamwork and leadership skills and by the end of a fun packed and emotion filled weekend, they leave knowing they are not alone and they have what it takes to keep fighting their illness. Over 272 campers attended the April/September camp sessions, along with approximately 60 dedicated volunteers, each session.

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