LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 12, 2024) – CHI Saint Joseph Health on Thursday announced the recipients of its 2024 Art of Humankindness Grants designed to promote kindness, empathy, compassion and friendship within local schools. The grants are part of ongoing efforts by CHI Saint Joseph Health’s Creating Safer Neighborhoods Initiative, funded through CommonSpirit Health's Mission and Ministry Fund, to foster a culture of kindness and support in local communities.
“At Saint Joseph, we understand the power of art to bring us together,” said Christy Spitser, interim market president, CHI Saint Joseph Health. “Through our Creating Safer Neighborhoods initiative, we are thrilled to help bring that power into local schools through these Art of Humankindness grants. We’re confident that, with this funding, these teachers can bring projects into classrooms where compassion and creativity thrive. CHI Saint Joseph Health is honored to support our educators and students as we work together to strengthen our community.”
This year’s grants provided up to $2,000 to seven Fayette County elementary schools to support projects encouraging kindness and creativity through various art forms. The 2024 award recipients are:
“CHI Saint Joseph Health is a model partner for our schools, creating opportunities for our students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and enrich the lessons our teachers impart each day. These funds will go a long way toward ensuring kindness is a consistent and meaningful part of students’ daily lives—not just for a day, or a week, but as an ongoing commitment to one another,” said Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins. “The Art of Humankindness initiative speaks to me personally, because it builds on our district’s commitment to educating the whole child by tapping into each student’s creativity and giving them an outlet to practice and express kindness, empathy, compassion, and friendship. Those values are the building blocks of strong and healthy communities because kind children grow into adults who contribute positively to society.”
The Art of Humankindness Grants grew out of an internal Chalk It Up to Humankindness challenge in 2021 as part of the CHI Saint Joseph Health Year of Humankindness, which allowed Saint Joseph caregivers to return the kindness shown to health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the initiative has grown extensively. Past events include schoolwide art projects to promote kindness, such as support for art enrichment at Mary Todd Elementary School, chalk art at Russell Cave Elementary in 2022, photography at Russell Cave Elementary in 2023, chalk art at George Washington Carver in 2023, a musical video at William Wells Brown Elementary in 2023, and 3D printed art murals at Yates Elementary in 2023. The initiative continues to expand, involving more schools and students each year, encouraging a lasting impact of kindness and creativity in the community.
Photo Information (left to right): Demetria Blair, violence prevention manager, CHI Saint Joseph Health, Dr. Demetrus Liggins, superintendent Fayette County Public Schools, Kristen Blaker, art teacher, Arlington Elementary School, Michelle Armstrong, art teacher, Cardinal Valley Elementary School, Hope Bennett, art teacher, Coventry Oak Elementary School, Emily Blankenship, art teacher, Deep Springs Elementary School, Brittany McFarland, art teacher, Mary Todd Elementary School, Caryn Raskin, art teacher, Millcreek Elementary School, and Christy Spitser, interim market president, CHI Saint Joseph Health. Not pictured is Annette Justice, art teacher, Meadowthorpe Elementary School, who was unable to attend the event.
About CHI Saint Joseph Health
CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.
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CHI Saint Joseph Health on Thursday announced the recipients of its 2024 Art of Humankindness Grants designed to promote kindness, empathy, compassion and friendship within local schools.
The grants are part of ongoing efforts by CHI Saint Joseph Health’s Creating Safer Neighborhoods Initiative, funded through CommonSpirit Health's Mission and Ministry Fund, to foster a culture of kindness and support in local communities.
Publish date:
Friday, September 13, 2024
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