Inspired by the artwork of Claude Monet, 5th-graders at PS 51 in Hell’s Kitchen used oil pastels, watercolors, colored pencils and charcoal to create their own masterpieces. Then, in the sixth annual Art of Giving event organized by Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford, they donated their work to brighten the hallways of the Henry J. Carter Hospital and Nursing Facility in East Harlem on June 8. “It was so meaningful for students to see who their paintings would inspire and heal,” says Shani Perez, the art teacher and chapter leader at PS 51. “Patients and executives at the facility made them feel so welcome and made them understand and appreciate why it’s so important to donate their work to this space.” At the event, students had the opportunity to stand beside their framed artwork as it was ceremoniously unveiled on easels to “oohs” and “ahhs” from the audience. “There were so many people who were so impressed by the level of commitment the students had to their artwork,” says Perez. “My students had such a wonderful time. It was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”