 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Packers and St. Vincent Hospital Host PaintFest
posted 09/05/00
 |
| QB Danny Wuerffel paints with one of the youngsters at St. Vincent Hospital. |
Many Packers spent a portion of their off day on Tuesday tending to matters more creative than which they are accustomed.
The players joined their spouses, coaches' wives, staff members and past and present St. Vincent Hospital patients in PaintFest, a day intended not only to introduce the Packers to the courageous patients, but also to fill the hospital with hundreds of colorful wall and ceiling tiles.
With help from the Foundation for Hospital Art, a few Packers managed to cast aside their imaginative deficiencies and put their brushes to work. Alongside pediatric patients and surviving stroke and cancer patients, they painted tiles ranging from butterflies and stars to Packer logos.
"I think what I've done here is scarred some kid for life with my lack of color coordination," linebacker Mike Morton joked. "Really, anybody who's had surgery or spent any time in the hospital, you know there's not a lot to look at. This is just something to add a little color and break up the monotony for these guys. If we can help out, why not?"
Kicker Ryan Longwell was another of the 15 players who took time to assist in the hospital's effort. He, like Morton, is immensely more confident of his on-the-field abilities than his artwork.
"It's not good," Longwell said. "It's a good thing I can kick a lot better than I can paint, because I can't keep it inside the lines here. That would not translate well on the football field."
The players involved included Morton, Longwell, Donald Driver, William Henderson, Danny Wuerffel, Rob Davis, Tyrone Davis, Josh Bidwell, Chris Gizzi, Craig Heimburger, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Basil Mitchell, Scott Curry, Allen Rossum and Dorsey Levens.
As the Packers' director of family programs, Sherry Schuldes rallied together the Packers to organize the event with St. Vincent's.
 |
| FB William Henderson shares his artistic side. |
"This is a wonderful event for everybody involved," Schuldes said. "The players get to help out doing something relaxing on their day off, and they get to be with their significant others at the same time. Most importantly, the hospital and its patients get some much needed attention."
"Any time you get a chance to come out and help with the community and help people that are not quite as fortunate and blessed as us, you have to take the opportunity," said Longwell. "We were human beings long before we were ever athletes and football players. This is fun, and it's necessary for us to help out."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
