FEATURE/Gifted Quadriplegic Artist Gives Us a Lesson in Profiting From Her Experience.

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Aug. 25, l999--

Dynamic and artistically talented Jo Frances Heiden broke her neck in l984 at the age of 19 years.

She was planning to be an artist and a businesswoman. At the time, Jo was studying marketing and management information systems at the University of Virginia. One hot summer day, she accidentally fell from the roof of her 4th story dormitory while sunbathing, and her future was changed forever.

Carol Weesner, High School Teacher, Monterey (Calif.) High School, on Jo's unusual courage: "On the night of her accident Jo lay immobilized in her hospital bed. She called me at my home in Monterey to say she would be just fine. At that moment I knew that while her physical abilities had been drastically diminished, her spirit never would be."

Weesner's prediction came true.

Jo is a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the shoulders down. After only one year in rehabilitation, she continued her education at the University of Virginia and graduated on time with two majors. Since then, Jo has worked as a full-time software engineer for Attachmate Corp., based in McLean, Va. See more about Jo and her artwork at her Web site: http://www.jforiginals.com.

In her spare time, and with almost superhuman stamina and benign spirit, Jo began painting her realistic watercolors holding the paintbrush in her mouth. While painting with her mouth was terribly uncomfortable, she never gave up. Even Jo was surprised at how well she could still paint. She found writing with her mouth almost impossible. Painting with her mouth, while physically challenging, came surprisingly easy.

Jo now believes that painting is a gift, which finds a way to emerge, even when the most common channels are blocked.

Thanks to a scientific breakthrough, which enabled a computer to be implanted in her chest, Jo has gained partial use of her left hand. While she still must use her mouth to do the most detailed areas of a painting, she can now paint larger areas, such as backgrounds, with her left hand. This greatly reduces some of the physical stresses of her early painting days. With that greater mobility she is able to instill in her paintings the very inner spirit that keeps her going.

Six years ago Jo started JF Originals, a greeting card enterprise. The purpose was to raise money for Christmas gifts for underprivileged families in the Washington D.C. area. The company slogan says it all: Art that Rises Above the Challenge.

Each year, Jo throws a huge wrapping party to celebrate the more than 1,000 Christmas gifts made possible by the sale of her cards. "Even before her accident, Jo was interested in helping others in need" explains Pam Martin, Marketing Director for JF Originals. "Her accident only intensified that desire, probably because she could personally relate to it. She has a strong desire to show the world that a good quality of life can be achieved, and one's highest potential can be reached, regardless of the obstacles. She often says, "If I can do all this as a quad, imagine what you could do with your whole body"

JF Originals and http://www.jforiginals.com became profitable when Jo began painting greeting cards with her inspirational success story on the back of each printed card. Corporate executives were enthralled with her eye-catching graphics, and soon realized her cards could be used as marketing tools. Many say it is their way of helping others through the free enterprise system while simultaneously supporting a cause. JF Originals high profile customers include Cisco Systems, AT&T and UUNet, as well as USA Olympics.

The greeting cards are beautifully reproduced on quality paper in full color. They depict friendly country snow scenes, dynamic cityscapes, starry skies, landscapes sparkling with fireworks, quaint suburban homes, and colorful graphic designs, to name only a few. Each card is designed or painted with a benevolent sense of life. The words happy, thankful, and spirited come to mind. These are not typical greeting cards.

Jo also customizes greeting cards for many of her business clients, incorporating a logo, company slogan, or mission statement with the artistic watercolor design.

With funds from her corporate sales, Jo developed a literacy program called "The Books are Cool Club," directed at inner city children. "The children are sent free books providing they write a book report for me," she explains. This project has been a success with 70 children currently enrolled.

In l998 JF Originals and http://www.jforiginals.com sold 75,000 cards. The goal this year is 250,000. Eventually, Jo plans to establish an annual celebrity sports event through the sales of her hand-painted greeting cards. Both Jo Heiden and Pam Martin are passionate believers. They see JF Originals and http://www.jforiginals.com as an educational conduit designed to promote the power of the mind rising above the challenges of the body.

Certainly, Jo Heiden is an example of that -- par excellence!