Cartoonists bring smiles to OHSU Doernbecher

Cartoonists visit Doernbecher

Jayden Gerken, 5, is delighted with her new drawing of Maggie from the Simpsons. Over 50 cartoonists visited OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital, May 26, 2017. The event was sponsored by the Cartooning for Kids program, a charitable arm of the National Cartoonists Society. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

More than 50 cartoonists visited OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital Friday, drawing for and with children receiving care and their families.

The event was sponsored by the Cartooning for Kids program, a charitable arm of the National Cartoonist Society. The NCS is holding the Reuben Awards in Portland this weekend, described by one member as “the Oscars for cartooning.”

Many of the cartoonists at Friday’s event produce comic strips, comic books, animation and editorial cartoons. 

Cartoonist and event organizer Rick Stromoski described the event as a way “to spread goodwill into the communities that we visit.”

“It’s very rewarding,” said Stromoski. “It keeps us in perspective. If we can make a little kid feel good for half an hour to 45 minutes and get their mind off their chemo or whatever they’re going through, it’s worth it.”