HOUSTON – (Sept. 13, 2009) – The Periwinkle Foundation presents Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s 19^th annual Making A Mark opened on Sept. 13 in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and will be on display at Texas Children's Hospital until October 9, 2009, before traveling to other destinations in Texas and Virginia.  The exhibit’s last destination will be Hobby Airport where the portions of the exhibit will be on display from June to August, 2010.

Emily Freeman, a 2009 Making A Mark blue ribbon artist, works on a project at the Making A Mark kickoff party.

Cancer patients and their siblings express their emotions by creating special pieces of art and creative writing. Each unique piece shares an individual emotional journey. The Making A Mark exhibit is open to treatment centers from all over the world. This year’s exhibit features 364 pieces, representing seven countries including the United States, Brazil, Peru, Italy, Panama, Poland and Uganda.

 This unique program, a partnership between The Periwinkle Foundation and Texas Children’s Cancer Center, takes place in the waiting room at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, allowing patients and siblings something to look forward to when coming in for treatment. This year’s guest artist, Jonatan Lopez, spent several weeks at Texas Children’s helping the children draw pictures of various animals.  He used their pictures as a template to cut animals into his three dimensional totem pole—entitled Totem Pole for the Animal Kingdom—which was unveiled at the opening reception for the Making A Mark traveling exhibit.

 “Making A Mark allows the outside world to see the thoughts, struggles hopes and dreams of these special children who have been through so much in their young lives,” says Mary Beth Staine, Executive Director of The Periwinkle Foundation.  “And, those who visit the exhibit have the opportunity to let these young artists know how impactful their art is by sending them a post card from the road.” Postcards from the Road are mailed to The Periwinkle Foundation who gets the postcards to the individual artists.

“Many of these pieces are expressions of hope,” says Carol Herron, Coordinator of Arts in Medicine Program at Texas Children's Hospital. “The art pieces entitled, Next Spring, Believe and I Fly in My Dreams are the names of three of this year’s blue ribbon pieces.”

About The Periwinkle Foundation
Making A Mark was adopted by The Periwinkle Foundation, an organization committed to developing and providing programs that positively change the lives of children, young adults and families who are challenged by cancer and other life threatening illnesses at Texas Children’s Hospital, in 2001. For 26 years, The Periwinkle Foundation has partnered with Texas Children’s Cancer Center to provide unique, family-centered programs. For more information on The Periwinkle Foundation, visit www.periwinklefoundation.org.

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has embarked on a $1.5 Billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes a Neurological Research Institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information, visit www.texaschildrens.org.