LEXINGTON, Ky. — CommonSpirit Health announced Thursday that it has awarded $20,000 in grants to art teachers at 12 elementary schools in Lexington to support creative projects designed to promote kindness, empathy and friendship among students, according to reporting from The Lane Report.

The funding comes through CommonSpirit's 2026 Art of Humankindness Initiative, which uses creative projects to encourage positive social interactions while supporting violence prevention and student well-being efforts. The grants will allow participating Fayette County Public Schools art teachers to develop projects such as murals, photography, chalk art and schoolwide activities intended to leave a lasting impact within their schools.

The program is part of CommonSpirit's broader Creating Safer Neighborhoods Initiative, funded through the CommonSpirit Health Mission & Ministry Fund. The initiative focuses on community health and wellness by addressing factors associated with violence and creating environments where young people can thrive. A ceremonial check was presented to the Fayette Education Foundation and the art teachers leading projects at the selected schools.

"We are thrilled to continue the Art of Humankindness Initiative this year, and have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the impact of positivity and creative expression in our schools," said Demetria Blair, manager of the Creating Safer Neighborhoods Initiative. "These grants are more than just project funding — they are an investment to create a healthier future for our young students and community."

Terry Wooten, president of CommonSpirit – Saint Joseph Hospital – Lexington, emphasized the health system's commitment to community wellness beyond traditional medical care. "At CommonSpirit, we believe that health extends far beyond the walls of our hospitals — it begins in our schools and our neighborhoods," Wooten said. The Art of Humankindness program grew out of an internal Chalk It Up to Humankindness challenge launched in 2021 as part of the health system's Year of Humankindness, which allowed health care workers to reciprocate kindness shown to them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative has since expanded into Lexington schools, using art as a tool to encourage students to think about kindness, relationships and their role in creating a positive school environment.