It is said that one person can make a difference in the world, this time it was Dina Barnum a Mom, Wife and Real Estate Agent who lives in the community of Highlands Ranch.  After the incident that took place on May 7, 2019, at the STEM School, Dina thought back to a time years ago when she went to assist in cleanup in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado devastated their community.  While she was in Joplin she saw what she described as “bright burst of colored stars amongst the destruction” and referred to the stars saying “seeing the stars was like a visual hug”. This remembrance prompted her to want to make a difference for her community and for the students and faculty of the STEM School upon their return for the fall semester.  

Dina reached out to the Stars of HOPE program manager and the process began to bring Stars of HOPE to her community in Highlands Ranch, CO. Dina is a true ambassador of HOPE as she complied a team to help out, gathering donations of paint, brushes, paper towels and all of the items needed to facilitate the paint.

Dina with Equity Colorado Real Estate and husband Gregory with Phineas CBD provided sponsorship as well. With the support of funding by local community members and New York Says Thank You Foundation, Stars of HOPE was able to provide a free community paint project for Highlands Ranch, CO.

Over 150 community members showed up to paint stars and help with the event.

 The STEM School PTO was in attendance as well as four local art therapists, all in support of the community.  The stars are beautiful and will be hung in the school as the students return at the beginning of August.

One person seeing Stars of HOPE has now made a difference not only Saturday, July 27, 2019, but through the collaboration of Dina, local art therapy association, and Highlands Ranch PTO, more stars will be painted and in the future will be painted with the students for ongoing healing through therapeutic arts. 

Stars of HOPE is looking forward to collaborating again with Highlands Ranch PTO.  If you would like more information for this project contact stephanie@starsofhopeusa.org and if you would like to donate to support the project visit us at  https://starsofhopeusa.org/donate/.

Stars of HOPE® is focusing on mental health and resiliency of communities impacted by human-caused tragedy while strengthening compassion and empathy in future generations with healing art. Today, with the help of over 90,000 volunteers, Stars of HOPE have transformed 220 communities in 26 countries impacted by disaster and tragedy. Thank you to our National Community Sponsor KPMG, LLP. Stars of HOPE® is a registered trademark of New York Says Thank You Foundation.