“Leann” is a bright and energetic 11-year-old child who resides at Lee & Beulah Moor Children’s Home. When she first arrived at the Home, she was quiet and kept to herself, but within a few weeks, she opened up. Just by being her beautiful self, she keeps her peers and the staff laughing all the time. She’s never had a conflict with anyone.

Leann likes to read and spends a lot of time in the library. But her real passion is drawing. She loves art and can spend hours simply lying on her bed and drawing.

During a recent outing to Sunland Park Mall, Leann passed by an art gallery and asked childcare worker, Ms. Espi, if they could go in for a look. As Leann scanned the various pieces for sale, one in particular caught her eye—a small painting depicting winter trees with a dramatic blue background. Leann immediately declared, “If I had the money, I would buy this painting this second.”

Ms. Espi informed Leann she could begin saving her allowance if she really wanted to purchase the painting. Leann lamented, “It would take me a whole year to buy this with my allowance.” While Leann and Ms. Espi were continuing their conversation, a woman next to them began to speak with them and suggested that she might be able to work something out regarding the painting. Leann continued to admire the little painting for a good 15 minutes. She was really taken by its beauty. It was time to go and Leann had to leave the painting behind.

Two weeks later, Ms Espi received a call from the gallery owner who stated that she had spoken with the artist about Leann and how much she admired the painting. She said that the artist wanted to give Leann the treasured painting and wanted to do it in person. A few days later, Leann came home from school and noticed her mom and a lot of other people in the house and wondered what was going on. She was then introduced to the artist and presented with the same painting she had admired weeks before in the gallery. Leann was overwhelmed to speechlessness. She simply couldn’t believe the beautiful little painting was really hers.

Leann then brought out her sketch book and began to talk about her own drawings with the artist. To this day, the little painting is proudly displayed in Leann’s room and has inspired her to continue her love of drawing and art.