Musical healing project lives on at Shriners Hospital

Heritage High School — Madeline Bennett’s positive senior project from two years ago has lived on and even flourished. Bennett started an effort called Owl Be Better With Music, which brought musical volunteers and healing into patients’ rooms at Shriners Hospital in Portland. The practice quickly grew into a monthly event featuring both room-to-room musicians as well as larger performances and craft activities. With Bennett headed off to college, the effort was taken on by Heritage students Samatha Ballard and Matilynn Hendrickson as their senior project. Ballard and Hendrickson organized volunteers, collected coins, challenged other schools and hospitals to help out, and ultimately raised $730 for Owl Be Better With Music, which was presented to Bennett on March 29.