About Us

In 2001, two cousins, Lisa Ussery and Lori Guadagno, had a dream and the inspiration to combine their talents to develop an Arts-in-Healing program at a children’s hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Four years later, the Art With A Heart For Children program has grown to serve over 5,000 children five (5) days a week at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and at the Nemours Children’s Clinic.

Currently, the staff consists of Lead Artist-in-Residence and Co-Founder Lori Guadagno and two Artists in Residence, Tim Decker and Lori Presto.

Co-Founder Lisa Landwirth Ussery is now on the Advisory Board (Chairman) after volunteering her time to implement and run the organization for the past 3 years.

In June 2005, Kerrie Slattery was hired as the part time Executive Director. In addition, each year 12 interns from UNF’s Fine Arts Department work a weekly session.

Visiting artists donate monthly workshops and there are a fluctuating number of volunteers, each donating an average of 12 hours per month.

The program was founded in 2001 as a totally volunteer endeavor and
was brought under Baptist Hospital’s nonprofit structure.

Baptist Health Foundation acts as the fiscal and 501(C) (3) agent for the program and, as an independent entity, is responsible for its own fundraising.

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