The heart of The Butterfly Project belongs to my daughter, BreAunna Hill, a beautiful soul we lost to suicide on July 21, 2019. BreAunna fought a difficult battle with mental illness, a struggle complicated by the severe head trauma she suffered in a car accident on May 19, 2016.

The butterfly became our family's symbol of hope during a moment of crisis. After nine long days in the trauma unit, we returned home. A few days prior, we had noticed a butterfly with broken wings clinging to the flowers outside our house. Remarkably, that same butterfly was there when we arrived. My son placed it in my hand, giving me a powerful metaphor: I told BreAunna that even with broken wings, you can still find a way to fly. As if understanding, the butterfly moved from my hand and rested on her finger.

Initially, The Butterfly Project was a way for me to process the immeasurable loss of my daughter. Now, it has grown into something far-reaching—The Butterfly Effect. This principle reminds us that even the smallest act of kindness or creation can generate profound, widespread change in our interconnected world.

To maximize our impact, I became a Cognitive Behavior & Art Life Coach. This certification enables me to understand and apply how art and art therapy can stimulate healing and growth for everyone—from children and teens to adults and individuals with special needs.

Through vibrant, large-scale butterfly art installations and murals, we bring moments of visual wonder directly to the community. These pieces are more than just art; they are catalysts that have already fostered strong connections and become a deeply meaningful, shared experience in our current locations.