How Art Is Helping Us Lift the Main Line

Inspired by Ardmore Day, our Painting Kits, and the Hope Tree

There’s something extraordinary happening on the Main Line — and it starts with a paintbrush.

At events all year long, from sunrise hikes to open houses to the Ardmore tree lighting, we’ve been handing out kids’ painting kits and inviting families to slow down, create something together, and rediscover the joy of imagination. What seems like a simple gesture is turning into something much bigger: a movement of community connection, creativity, and hope.

That spirit was on full display at Ardmore Day, where over 150 people added their own touch to a community canvas. Children chose the yellow background, helped shape the tree trunk, added branches, leaves, apples, and imaginative shapes that made the piece feel alive. And then came the moment that captured the heart of the project: an 11-year-old girl gently painted the words “Hope Tree.”

Just like that, the artwork became a symbol — a reminder that when people create together, something meaningful grows.

This is exactly why we bring painting kits to our events.

When a child sits down with a brush and a paint sheet — whether it’s Santa arriving on a fire engine, The Willows mansion at sunrise, or scenes of their Main Line neighborhood — a few powerful things happen:

• Creativity replaces screen time
Art helps kids tap into imagination, problem-solving, and confidence in a way digital life doesn’t.

• Families connect
Parents and children laugh, talk, and create side-by-side — shared moments that strengthen families.

• Kids develop pride in their community
Painting local landmarks helps them form a deeper connection to the place they call home.

• Hope spreads
A simple kit becomes a spark — often inspiring conversations, friendships, and unexpected smiles.

Every painting kit, every brushstroke, every shared mural or coloring page is part of a bigger mission:
Painting Happy — lifting others, inspiring creativity, and building a stronger Main Line.

We’re grateful for partners, families, and kids who jump in with both feet (and sometimes both hands!) to make these moments happen. And we’re thrilled that the Hope Tree now has a forever home at the Plaza 16 Building — a piece of public art created by the community, for the community.

Hope is alive and well on the Main Line. And with every painting kit we hand out, every event we support, and every child we inspire to create, we’re helping it grow.