Welcome to my Walk & Play L.A. page! I am excited to be part of the 10th annual Walk & Play L.A. in support of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, healing doesn’t stop at medicine. It reaches deeper into creativity, connection, and the human spirit. Through the Mark Taper – Johnny Mercer Artists Program, we offer patients meaningful moments of hope, expression, and joy during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

Clinical Expressive Arts Therapies: Healing Through Evidence-Based Practice

Our team of mental health clinicians work with our patients and families using art and music therapy to support emotional and psychological health.

• Art Therapy empowers children to use the creative process—drawing, painting, and sculpting as a tool for emotional expression and healing. It helps reduce anxiety, build resilience, and allows kids to process experiences when words aren’t enough.
• Music Therapy uses rhythm, melody, and improvisation to help young patients manage pain, cope with treatment, and connect with their emotions. It encourages self-expression and offers a sense of control during times of uncertainty.

Clinical Benefits

Research demonstrates that these therapies guided by board-certified professionals have significant medical benefits, including:

• Decreased stress and anxiety
• Lowered blood pressure
• Increased coping skills and self-awareness
• Minimized pain perception
• Improved treatment compliance and communication with staff
• Strengthened family bonding and attachment

These therapies are integrated into the care plan, helping children heal both inside and out.

Creative Encounters with the Arts: Inspiring Joy and Self-Expression

Alongside clinical therapies, our non-clinical arts offerings bring life, color, and creativity into the hospital experience. These include bedside art sessions, musical performances, group workshops, and interactive activities led by local artists, musicians, and performers.

At the heart of this work is our dedicated Artist in Residence, who leads weekly art workshops in our art and music room, the Creative Oasis, the only space of its kind in the hospital. This safe, welcoming environment invites patients and their families to step into a world of imagination and possibility, where they can explore different materials, connect with others, and create something that is uniquely theirs.

Together, these two arms of the program create a holistic, innovative model of healing that treats not just illness but the emotional, creative, and psychological needs of every patient. We nurture lifelong connections to the arts, empowering each child with hope, expression, and a voice all their own.

Support the Artists Program

By supporting the arts at CHLA, you help provide children with strength through creativity and healing through expression.

Because expressive therapies are not covered by insurance, the Mark Taper – Johnny Mercer Artists Program is entirely funded through philanthropy. Your contributions help:

• Bring joy, comfort, and healing to thousands of children each year
• Expand access to therapeutic arts for more patients
• Fund salaries for licensed and board-certified art and music therapists
• Support or provide visiting artists and musicians
• Sustain our Creative Oasis and workshop materials

I hope you’ll consider a donation. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in the lives of many young patients and their families. Any amount will be greatly appreciated and will help us brighten a child’s hospital stay through the power of the arts.

Thank you!