For the eighth consecutive year, the PPG group is partnering with the AFM-Telethon as part of its global program Colorful Communities. In Nice, artist Carole Lombardo has created a mural within the Lenval University Pediatric Hospital. Objective: to transform treatment areas into warmer and more soothing places.
Since 2018, PPG has been using color to enhance well-being in hospitals. Through its Colorful Communities program, the group annually mobilizes its volunteer employees to renovate care spaces and provide a more welcoming environment for patients, families, and healthcare staff. For the 2025 edition, more than 70 employees of the group in France are participating in two community projects, in Nice and Garches, in partnership with artist Carole Lombardo.
In Nice, teams have worked in the consultation service of the Lenval University Pediatric Hospital. The goal is clear: to transform waiting areas, corridors, and consultation rooms to create a more calming atmosphere. A mural by Carole Lombardo adorns the walls, inspired by the colors and light of the French Riviera. The artist also drew from the local culture, paying tribute to figures such as Henri Matisse and Niki de Saint Phalle, while incorporating elements of the fauna, flora, and events that enliven the Riviera coastline.
A second project will take place on November 21 and 22 at the Raymond-Poincarรฉ AP-HP Hospital in Garches, in the Brรฉzin pediatric service. Once again, PPG volunteers will work to bring color back to the corridors and common areas. The artist will create another mural there, where “dynamic forms and natural elements – trees, skies, and floral patterns – ” will intertwine with “subtle symbols of courage and resilience.” An invitation to dream, suitable for a service welcoming children in intensive rehabilitation.
When Art and Color Join the Heart of Care
Carole Lombardo is collaborating for the fourth time with PPG as part of the Telethon, sponsored this year by the Nice-based artist Santa. A painter and art therapist, she has been creating murals in hospitals and specialized centers around the world for 25 years. Her work aligns with a dual approach: artistic and human. She explains: “I am happy to renew my partnership with PPG for the Telethon. At the heart of this initiative, it is above all human and collective values that prevail: volunteers, caregivers, and partners unite their energies to create colorful murals on hospital walls that convey well-being and hope for hospitalized children. I envisioned creations inspired by nature, light, the horizon, and magic. Themes that are both comforting and stimulating, capable of opening a space for dreaming and soothing within the hospital environment, which is often a living space where children spend each day. If these murals, for a moment, catch their eye, make them smile and make them feel good, it will be a great success.”
This approach is in line with her career path. With a degree in art therapy, Carole Lombardo supports patients in a creative process where pictorial expression becomes a means of communication and transformation. “The work then becomes a space for symbolization, carrying meaning for the person,” she adds. Her work is based on listening, observation, and the sensitive connection she establishes with caregivers and children.
A Collective and Sustainable Commitment
The partnership between PPG and the AFM-Telethon illustrates a long-term approach. In eight years, 26 hospital services have already been renovated, thanks to the mobilization of more than 1,000 volunteer employees. For the 2025 Telethon, PPG’s contribution amounts to approximately 39,800 euros, including 450 liters of paint, made with bio-based raw materials and a low carbon footprint.
Justus Tichelman, General Manager of PPG Architectural Coatings France & FOS, sums up the spirit of the project: “The partnership with the AFM-Telethon embodies and brings to life PPG’s mission to protect and beautify the world. This year again, many PPG employees are joining forces with the Telethon to renovate care facilities and make this event a great moment of sharing and conviviality. It is a great pride for us.”
