Why Hyer Living ?

Non-profit Dreams

I’m an artist, author, and storyteller who believes in the healing power of connection. My work lives in the space where emotion meets imagination — where a character, a color, or a simple line of text can help someone feel understood.

The name Hyer Living is deeply personal. It carries my maiden name, Hyer, and honors the grandparents who helped raise me. Their small gas and repair shop was the heartbeat of my childhood — a place where people were welcomed, where kindness was practical, and where community was built through everyday acts of care. They taught me resilience, honesty, and the quiet strength of showing up for others.

Choosing the name Hyer Living was my way of carrying their legacy forward. It represents rising above the circumstances I grew up in, finding my voice, and learning to share love and laughter through art and story. It’s a reminder that where we come from shapes us, but it doesn’t limit us.

Today, I use illustration, storytelling, and community-centered art to help children and families navigate emotions that are often overlooked or misunderstood. My work is rooted in compassion, connection, and the belief that healing begins the moment someone feels seen.

Light for the Lost began as a simple act of remembrance — a way to honor lives touched by addiction and the families left carrying the weight of loss. What started as a personal expression of grief and love grew into something larger: a movement built on tenderness, truth, and the belief that no one should have to face their shadows alone.

Its first form was a storybook — a gentle, symbolic way to acknowledge pain and offer hope. As more people connected with the message, the mission expanded. Light for the Lost became a space for anyone who has ever felt invisible, unheard, or forgotten.

Now, it is evolving into a nonprofit with a clear and compassionate purpose:

• To support grieving families with resources rooted in empathy

• To create art and stories that help children understand big emotions

• To build partnerships that bring comfort, connection,and community healing

• To uplift artists whose work brings light into difficult places

• To create transparent, inclusive systems where every story is honored

The future of Light for the Lost is intentional and heart-led. Through murals, storybooks, outreach programs, and meaningful merchandise, the mission continues to grow into a foundation where healing is nurtured and hope is shared.

This is a movement of gentleness.A movement of presence.

A movement of turning pain into purpose and silence into story.

Light for the Lost is becoming a place where art meets healing, where families find support, and where every lost or hurting soul is reminded that their story matters.