“Hearts for Healing” Project

Hearts for Healing developed out of the Arts for Healing program in 2003. Gerrit Greve is an internationally acclaimed fine artist and co-founder with Ralyn and Nate Wolfstein of  the Arts for Healing at Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, in 1993.  Arts for Healing has been enhancing the hospital environment and promoting healing for patients, their families, and staff members of Scripps Hospital for over fifteen years. Greve was the driving force in establishing the Hearts for Healing Program at Scripps Memorial Hospital, Encinitas in 2003, and has been its director since then. Beginning in 2008, Greve has expanded the program beyond Scripps Hospitals to include many more hospitals and medical clinics, with his “Art with a Heart” Program and “Healing Waters” Program. This expansion has been primarily based 0n working with children in the adjacent communities as a community outreach project. Working with local schools, community centers and other programs and centers that help the under-served  youth of the community, the children create art to be placed in medical facilities in their neighborhoods. The art that the children create  is auctioned off to help perpetuate the program and benefit the community medical centers. The buyers of the art works are encouraged to donate the pieces back to these  medical institutions to enhance their healing environment. Because of the success of the program and the positive reception it continues to receive, Greve is looking to expand this program nationally.