The Athens Regional Foundation announces a new community program in which student artwork from across Northeast Georgia is featured in an art gallery at Athens Regional Medical Center.
 
The Peds Painters program calls for participating schools throughout Northeast Georgia to select original works of art for display that inspire and encourage young patients receiving care in the Pediatrics Unit at Athens Regional.
 
Elementary and middle schools in Athens Regional’s primary service area, including Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties, are eligible to participate.
 
Student artists must be in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade for the 2015-16 school year.  Schools may rotate out artwork throughout the school year.  Student artists will receive a commemorative certificate of recognition for their participation.
 
Michelle Strickland, manager of Athens Regional’s Pediatrics Unit said, “We recently made $200,000 in improvements to the Pediatrics unit thanks to a grant from G.I.F.T., our employee generosity program funded by donations from Athens Regional employees. The unit received new paint, wallpaper and equipment. We quickly realized we needed new artwork as the finishing touch to our makeover! Children’s artwork is perfect to cheer up our patients and their families.”
 
The Peds Painters program seeks to connect the children of this community with the children served at Athens Regional. Athens Regional is the only hospital in the area to feature a dedicated Pediatrics Unit. It has 17 patient beds and serves children and youth from one month old to 18 years of age.