Youth Art For Healing is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring works of art created by youth into healthcare environments to provide a sense of comfort, inspiration, and healing for patients and their loved ones, and healthcare professionals.
Our Focus
Youth Art For Healing was founded in 2012 to facilitate the creation of artworks by student artists for permanent installation in healthcare environments in the Washington metro area. For over 11 years, YAFH enjoyed partnerships with 44 healthcare sites, as well as 53 schools where 2,629 students created 2,024 works of art to bring smiles and comfort to patients and their families, and healthcare staff.
In 2023, YAFH's focus shifted from our large-scale program of projects to the Matt Papirmeister Award, an annual scholarship for student artists who are high school seniors. With this transition, we continue to be guided by our mission. We're very pleased to financially support the continuing education of talented, community-minded students who create uplifting artworks for patients, families and staff in healthcare environments.
YAFH Founder & Executive Director Jan Papirmeister (center) with the 2023 recipients of the Matt Papirmeister Award: Isabel Acuna Marin (left) and Erin Malone (right).
The Matt Papirmeister Award
Painting of Matt Papirmeister and Stella by student artist Alex Dwight from Walt Whitman High School in 2015.
Launched during the 2022-23 school year, Youth Art For Healing's Matt Papirmeister Award is presented annually to Montgomery County high school seniors to support their post-secondary education. Winners of our award are selected by YAFH's Board of Directors after their review of the student applicants' essays, paintings, and art teacher evaluations.
Youth Art For Healing created this award for student artists to honor the life of Matt Papirmeister, cherished son of our organization’s founder Jan Papirmeister and her husband Chuck, and brother of Sara.
Designed to commemorate Matt's kind spirit and zest for life, our award was originally $2,500 and then increased to $3,000 for each recipient in 2024.
In 2026, YAFH will provide three awards – $3,500 for First Place, $3,000 for Second Place, and $2,500 for Third Place – to support student artists who create uplifting art to give to others in their community. For more details, visit our Matt Papirmeister Award page.
The 2025 Matt Papirmeister Award Recipients
Youth Art For Healing is pleased to introduce graduating seniors P. Arwyn Hager and Max Zonova, the recipients of the 2025 Youth Art For Healing Matt Papirmeister Award. Arwyn and Max are both graduating seniors from Albert Einstein High School and students in the selective Montgomery County Public Schools Visual Art Center (VAC) program.
As part of the Matt Papirmeister Award application process, each student must create and submit a painting that is healing, inspirational, and comforting for others. Visit our News & Announcements page to learn more about Arwyn and Max, as well as view their beautiful paintings…
2025 Matt Papirmeister Award recipients P. Arwyn Hager (left) and Max Zonova (right) with YAFH Founder & Executive Director Jan Papirmeister (center).
Past Recipients of
The Matt Papirmeister Award
In the first two years of presenting the Matt Papirmeister Award, Youth Art For Healing's financial support has had a significant impact on the 2023 and 2024 recipients. Erin Malone, Isabel Acuna Marin, Giselle Maravilla, and Alanna Sidlowski have all kindly provided updates for us to share with the YAFH community.
YAFH’s support has enabled them to attend educational institutions otherwise out of reach, work fewer hours and focus more on their studies and artwork, and given them the confidence and motivation to move forward in their careers as artists…
Youth Art For Healing in Action
See highlights from our final project year (2022-23) and learn more about the Matt Papirmeister Award in our Youth Art For Healing in Action video.
Youth Art For Healing
Retrospective Art Show
(2012-23)
Our 2012-23 Retrospective Art Show includes hundreds of the 2,024 artworks created by our student artists during those 11 years. Enjoy viewing the outstanding paintings from all the years of YAFH working with our school and healthcare partners to bring the students' uplifting artworks into healthcare environments.
