A Giving Presence

Glenview, IL, April 15, 2009 --(PR.com)-- In an economic climate where giving is more important than ever, community-minded small businesses remind us that time is a donation too often overlooked. With budget cuts across the board, we must not forget to involve ourselves in humanitarian efforts; the need for community support, especially in the arts, never ceases.

At a packed March 12th gallery opening at H. Marion Framing Studio in Wilmette, more than 100 guests circulated, nibbling refreshments and admiring the works of several dozen local painters, sculptors and collagists. The artists were there too, but couldn’t stay long: they had homework. That’s because the stars of this show were Glenview and Wilmette elementary school kids from Avoca School District 37’s Marie Murphy Junior High School. Gallery owner and Marie Murphy Junior High School Alum Jan Marion played host to this glitzy opening.

“When I was a kid, we had music and art every day in school, but that’s not the case anymore. It’s more important than ever to foster art appreciation among schoolchildren.” says Marion. When asked if the kids are making better art now than in 1970 Jan shrugged diplomatically and offered, “I believe that we need to encourage these kids to make art and be creative. There is a strong link between kids who make art and their level of focus and success later in life.”

“In addition, this is a great way to give back to the community,” according to Marion, whose commercial consulting clients include the likes of Resurrection Healthcare and Loyola University Health Systems. Marion supports local artists of all ages and fosters the healing qualities of art.

Another successful event featured the kids at the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital of Loyola Medical Center. They received a special treat recently when the designers of H. Marion helped them to forget about their illnesses & focus on having fun and being a kid.

Bringing his love of art to the pediatric patients at Loyola Medical Center was deemed a resounding success for Jan Marion of H. Marion Framing, who donated all the necessary art and craft supplies for the kids of Loyola’s RMCH ward to create personalized, hand-painted picture frames. The activity was a welcome release for patients and family members from the mundane routine of testing and extended hospital stays. Patients who were too sick to venture out of their rooms participated in bed-side activities.

No stranger to endless hours at hospitals, Jan spent much of his youth visiting his father Hal, who underwent years of treatment for a long and ultimately fatal illness. “Seemingly endless hours of exposure to such an unpleasant environment had a profound effect on me,” he explained, “so when I first heard about art in hospitals, I thought it was a wonderful idea.” Since that time, Jan has worked tirelessly, providing art consulting and instituting art therapy projects like this one for hospitals throughout the Midwest– especially in the pediatric units. Focusing on creating a better patient experience, Jan works to help de-institutionalize the healthcare environment, implementing imagery that reduces stress and promotes healing through evidence-based design.

Like many individuals and business owners, H. Marion Framing regularly supports local charities with monetary contributions. Donations of in-kind products or services are other ways they show support. H. Marion Framing Studio has two locations, in Glenview, and Wilmette, Ill., and has been serving the framing, art consulting & design needs of the North Shore since 1972.

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