VIRGINIA BEACH — A Virginia Beach muralist known for his colorful, happy fish designs started a nonprofit and has been providing dozens of care packages for patients at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.
Troy Summerell, 45, recently launched OnieTonie Foundation to continue his philanthropic efforts that started more than 10 years ago.
In 2015, Summerell opened an art studio in the budding ViBe Creative District, where he displayed his original work: dozens of skateboards and surfboards painted to look like fish.
He also made socks with signature ocean-inspired designs. He had a goal then to produce children’s socks with non-skid bottoms and wanted to donate them to CHKD in Norfolk.
Summerell wanted to honor the legacy of his cousin Josh, who lost his battle to leukemia when he and Summerell were children.
He accomplished that goal and more.
In the past decade, he’s focused on both his art business and contributing to the community. Through his company OnieTonie Designs, he has painted numerous murals on buildings inside and out, including on the façade of the Virginia Beach Visitor Center at the Oceanfront, commercial buildings, schools and basketball backboards. He’s also donated artwork and other items, including the nonskid socks.
“OnieTonie’s all about trying to make you smile in that moment that you’re experiencing it,” Summerell said.
He’s worked with the children’s hospital in Norfolk before, wrapping several of its transport ambulances with his smiling fish theme design and has painted murals in CHKD centers.
Summerell recently decided to expand on his sock donations and has created “Smiley Packs,” loaded with fun and uplifting items for the patients.
“It’s a chance to do something positive and to make an impact,” he said.
Each pack contains an OnieTonie-inspired coloring book, a box of Crayola crayons, a turtle stuffed animal, a poster, a sticker page, a pair of non-skid socks, a beanie, a squishy fish, a wristband and a water bottle. Smiley Packs come in a reusable tote bag adorned with a large OnieTonie smiley face.
The socks make walking in the hospital safe, yet fun, and the squishy fish acts as a stress ball, said Tricia Taylor, a CHKD child life assistant.
“We’re deeply grateful for the OnieTonie Foundation’s generosity and for making our patients and families smile,” Taylor said in a release.
The foundation delivered 50 packs to CHKD over the summer and will take another 50 to the hospital Monday.
To keep the momentum going, OnieTonie foundation is accepting donations.
“Hopefully we can impact as many kids as we can with these packs,” Summerell said.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, [email protected]
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