Drawing smiles, one crayon at a time

Danny Federico ECB Publishing, Inc. The Crayon Initiative, a nonprofit organization, is making a difference in the lives of children in hospitals by providing them with free crayons to brighten their days and foster creativity. The organization's mission is simple: to “bring happiness to children who are facing the stress of hospitalization by giving them the freedom that comes with creative play.” The idea for The Crayon Initiative was sparked one evening when founder Bryan Ware was dining out with his family. While his children colored on the restaurant menu, Ware wondered what happened to the crayons once everyone left. He discovered that these crayons often ended up in landfills