In 1996, the Foundation for Hospital Art lost one of our founding board members to an unexpected heart attack.  Bruno Hermann was a man with a heart full for others.  Taken too soon from those that loved him, we were determined to honor his commitment and legacy every year.  So, in 1996 we commissioned the Bruno Hermann Trustee of the Year Award.

Bruno’s love of life and patients in hospitals saw no limits.  Famous for his slogan, “there are no problems, only solutions,” Bruno was instrumental in the early years  in pushing our mission beyond the confines of the continental United States.

It is with this same determination to care for others that we recognize this year’s awardee, Junko Trainor.

Not that you would ever want to, but I think it would be humanly impossible to contain Junko’s enthusiasm and energy for our mission.  A business continuity planner by day, Junko is a compassionate and tireless servant by night and weekend.   Over the past year, she has enlisted the volunteer efforts of her colleagues at the Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. in New York and Tokyo.  Junko was the inspiration behind a multi-city PaintFest that honored the victims and the survivors of the tsunami on the one-year anniversary in Rikuzentakata, Japan.

Junko, along with her husband, Win, led the Foundation’s efforts for Operation Lovejoy in the New York area by holding PaintFests every other month at the Hoboken University Medical Center, in Hoboken, New Jersey.  Here, volunteers join patients as they paint a brighter world for New York area hospitals.

This year also marked the 7^th year that Junko has traveled to South Korea to participate in the Pfizer PaintFest.  Averaging three to four hospitals a year, you can imagine how many walls that Junko has had her hands on, spreading joy and hope.

We are truly blessed to have committed volunteer board members like Junko Trainor.  Without their sacrifice and dedication, we would not be able to reach as many patients in hospitals as we do.  Join me in  celebrating Junko Trainor as the 2012 Bruno Hermann Trustee of the Year.