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Holiday Card Program
2009 Holiday Card Artists
Susie Pryor, Atlanta, GA
Artist Susie Pryor's life was forever changed one rainy Sunday morning in 1970 when she glimpsed a painting by popular American artist Andrew Wyeth in the Athens Banner-Herald newspaper. So moved by the painting, Pryor spent the rest of the afternoon practicing with brushes and acrylic paints, marking her ascent into her own career as a painter.
Pryor enhanced her skills studying classical drawing and art history at the University of Georgia, and, within recent years, by spending time learning from other artists, including a week-long workshop with renowned painter Wolf Kahn.
Known for her bold, colorful paintings, Pryor's work captures a variety of subjects, including landscapes, seascapes, and still lifes. Pryor credits playful children as her main inspiration and often incorporates scenes from her own childhood-when she cherished playing near her grandfather's country barn-into her work. Pryor has lived in Atlanta for the past 21 years and has generously donated her original artwork to this year's Holiday Card program.
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2009 Holiday Card Artists |
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Beth Galaid, 13, Atlanta, Ga.- Beth is a student at the Alfred and Adele Davis Academy. In her spare time, Beth enjoys playing soccer and running cross-country. She also enjoys art, math and science, and being with her best friends. Beth is thrilled to be a 2009 Holiday Card artist because she knows that this program helps children across Georgia. |
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Anna Hobbs, 17, Newnan, Ga.- Anna is involved in a number of activities at Newnan High School. She is president of the art club and enjoys theater, singing, dancing, playing the guitar and playing soccer. One of Anna's most favorite hobbies is painting. While Anna has never been a patient at Children's, she enjoys working with children and is honored to have contributed artwork this year. |
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Ryan Meneely, 12, Stockbridge, Ga.- Ryan lives on a horse farm in Stockbridge, Ga., and attends Eagle's Landing Christian Academy. As an infant and throughout much of his childhood, Ryan visited Children's for treatment for his chronic asthma. Today, Ryan enjoys playing outside with his dogs and playing various sports, especially baseball. Thanks to the doctors at Children's, Ryan's symptoms are gone. Ryan hopes through the Holiday Card program and other fundraising efforts, other children in Atlanta can experience miracles. |
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Casey Moorhead, 13, Dunwoody, Ga.- Casey is 13-years-old and enjoys playing the flute, running cross-country and swimming. Casey attends Peachtree Charter Middle School, and her favorite subject is science. Casey has never been a patient at Children's, but says that it "feels great to contribute to the community and help patients through art."
Isabella Conrad, 13, Ellenwood, Ga.- Isabella is in the seventh grade at Heritage Preparatory School. Her favorite subject is math, and she likes to run and participate in acting and drama club. Isabella plays the harp and also enjoys drawing. Isabella has been a patient in the Emergency Department at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta a number of times for stitches, a broken finger, and an ear infection. She is excited to be raising money for Children's this year. |
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Jordan Jones, 14, Smyrna, Ga.- Jordan is a very busy eighth grader at Whitefield Academy. She is involved in softball, soccer, basketball and community service activities. Jordan was treated at Children's for an ear infection at an early age, and her brother has been treated for asthma. While at Children's, Jordan met many friendly doctors and nurses and was cheered by the brightly colored walls and the play areas for patients and visitors. Today, Jordan is humbled and feels blessed to be featured as a Holiday Card artist because she can use her talents to help raise money for Children's. |
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Alex Pifer, 16, Newnan, Ga.- Alex is a junior at Newnan High School. His favorite subject in school is art, where he enjoys drawing and pottery. He also likes to play video games, go to the movies, and play with his dog, Pokey. Only residing in the Atlanta area for three years, he has never been a patient at Children's, but feels proud to be a part of something bigger through his artwork and a fundraiser that will help children.
Crystal Luk, 12, Duluth, Ga.- Crystal attends Sabah Kinder Art Inc. and is in the eighth grade. In her spare time, Crystal likes to listen to music, swim and watch movies. Although Crystal and her two sisters, Peggy and Pearl, never have been patients at Children's, Crystal is very excited about supporting the Holiday Card program this year. |
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Amanda Schwartz, 13, Atlanta, Ga.- Amanda attends the Alfred and Adele Davis Academy. In addition to playing soccer and basketball, Amanda loves to draw, and her favorite subject is math. Because her brother has been a recent patient at Children's, Amanda is honored to be a 2009 Holiday Card artist and support the hospital.
Ann DuPre, 13, Atlanta, Ga.- Ann is in the eighth grade at Whitefield Academy. Her favorite subject is history, and she enjoys time spent with friends. She runs cross-country and participates in summer swim team. Although Ann has never been a patient at Children's, her oldest sister was treated there for appendix surgery at age 6. Ann believes that the Holiday Card program is a great way to help the hospital, and she is excited to be a part of it. |
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Caroline Weller, 14, Atlanta, Ga.- Caroline attends Whitefield Academy and enjoys art class. She also enjoys cheerleading and skiing, both of which she has participated in for her entire life. Caroline's other hobbies include tennis, wakeboarding, and tubing. Although she has never been a patient at Children's, both of her brothers have been patients. Caroline is glad to be a 2009 Holiday Card artist this year and feels honored to be selected among so many children throughout Atlanta. |
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In Memoriam: Isaiah Johnson, 7, Pine Mountain, Ga. – Two of Isaiah’s favorite things were art and helping people. Combined, his favorite things paved a natural path to his participation in the Holiday Card Program and are gifts his friends and family cherish. As a student at Park Elementary School, Isaiah not only excelled at art, but also inspired his classmates to give their schoolwork 100 percent. He enjoyed playing basketball, swimming, playing arcade games and the cartoon characters Scooby-Doo and SpongeBob SquarePants. Isaiah also loved people and sprang into action when they needed help, often dropping his spare change into collection boxes. According to a nurse at the Aflac Cancer Center, his personality lit up the room during his visits for various surgeries and chemotherapy. Isaiah lost his battle against cancer in July 2009. His mother, Tiffanny, hopes his memory will inspire others to pursue their passions and help other children who continue to bravely battle cancer. |
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Ellie Jackson, 6, Atlanta, Ga.- Ellie is 6-years-old and is home-schooled in Atlanta. Her favorite subjects are history and math. In her spare time, Ellie enjoys horseback riding on her pony, Little Johnny. She also enjoys being outside and doing everything from playing with her animals to collecting outdoor treasures. On her fourth birthday, Ellie was treated at Children's after falling up some stairs. Ellie is very excited and happy about being a 2009 Holiday Card artist because she knows that she is doing something to help somebody else. |
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Daniella Galvan, 15, Newnan, Ga. |
 The Holiday Card volunteers would like to thank the following schools for having nurtured these artists' imaginations and creativity: The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy, Park Elementary School, Peachtree Charter Middle School, Newnan High School, Sabah Kinder Art Inc., Vanderlyn Elementary School, Whitefield Academy, and Heritage Preparatory School.
All proceeds from the Holiday Card program benefit the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
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