Art project supporting Noah’s Children brings together record number of local schools

Hundreds of handcrafted paper and ceramic butterflies will decorate the walls of local Bon Secours hospitals, some made by Henrico students, in support of Noah’s Children, a hospice program for children with life-threatening illnesses.

As Central Virginia’s only pediatric palliative care program, Noah’s Children serves about 300 Richmond-area families. Each year, local schools help fundraise thousands of dollars for the program through a student-made art project, with Henrico students participating since 1997.

This year saw a record number of 21 local schools come together for the project – a colorful butterfly-themed glass window and hundreds of individual butterflies made from paper, wire, fabric, and ceramic. Students from four Henrico schools – Varina High, John Rolfe Middle, Short Pump Middle, and Lakeside Elementary – helped create butterflies for the project.

“This is the largest response I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen this many schools chime in and contribute,” said Lakeside Elementary art teacher Amy Powroznik, who has spent the past 12 years helping with the annual art project. “They just came out of the woodwork, like we’re overflowing with butterflies.”

A portion of a butterfly-themed glass window made by Lakeside Elementary School students. (Courtesy Dylan Garner/Henrico Schools)

At the annual Children’s Hope Gala held March 22 in downtown Richmond, the butterfly window was auctioned off for $2,900 and individual butterflies sold for a total of $785, with all proceeds going to Noah’s Children. In the past, funds from the art projects, which have included a handmade dollhouse and a Richmond-themed train set, have gone towards services such as music therapy, new iPads for patients, and a party thrown for kids that underwent cleft palate surgery.

Powroznik, a longtime Bon Secours volunteer, was on the committee that chose this year’s art project theme. With the symbol of a butterfly, committee members hoped the art project would embody hope for the patients it supports, she said.

“We were trying to figure out a theme and we talked about it and a butterfly just kept coming up because it’s a symbol of hope and it’s beautiful and a symbol of growth,” said Powroznik.

Usually Powroznik only has her fourth- and fifth-grade students participate in the project, but this year, she put out an “all call" including third graders to get as many students on board.

“We had a lot of third graders participate this year who knocked it out of the park. I love being able to include more grade levels,” she said. “They even came in and worked during their lunchtime and had a little working lunch here in the art room. They really helped and it all came out beautiful.”

Lakeside art teacher Amy Powroznik and fifth-grade student Autumn Philips with Bon Secours volunteers and leaders. (Courtesy Dylan Garner/Henrico Schools)

Lakeside fifth-grader Autumn Philps helped design butterflies for the glass window, and although she loves art and aims to be a digital designer when she is older, she said her favorite part of the project was knowing that the funds would go towards helping local children.

“It makes me feel excited. I like helping out for others, even just around the house,” she said. “I know it’s for a good cause and I know that it’s for sick kids in the hospital. So I just really hope that they get what they need.”

Philips said she would encourage other local students to get involved in the project, even if they have not done a lot of artistic projects before.

“I would just tell them that it’s for a good cause and if they really are too scared to let it out, just do it,” she said.

Some of the butterflies made by Short Pump Middle School students. (Courtesy Dylan Garner/Henrico Schools)

At the Children’s Hope Gala, Powroznik has been able to see the families and children the project funds go towards, either through videos on a screen or in-person, and has watched the art project be auctioned off for thousands of dollars. It is a reminder of the hope and beauty that the butterflies stand for, she said.

“It’s very moving to be there. It just gives you chills,” she said. “Because you get to see stories of families and people talk about how the program and the palliative care has helped their family and their child. And then you see your piece auctioned off and you’re watching people. I have literally cried.”

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.