Meet the Artists and Staff

Madison “Peach” Steiner

Madison “Peach” Steiner is the founder/president of Peach’s Neet Feet. A non-profit organization where artists custom paint and donate shoes, telling the stories of brave children living with disabilities and fighting serious illnesses. Madison’s mission is to bring awareness for these children, to celebrate their courage and individuality. Each brush stroke is filled with soul, inspiration and hope. Through her endeavors, she has learned that these are more than just a pair of shoes, but a gateway to connect people, to encourage people to do the same. Madison has seen a ripple of kindness turn into a wave of compassion, leading by example daily.

Peach’s Neet Feet started in Madison’s bedroom with a spark of fierce desire to make a difference. She dropped out of High School at the age of 16, attending college classes not long after, graduating with a degree in Human Services/Social Work studies. Madison was determined to use her talent of painting and her love to work with children, teaching the importance of art and expression and the power of paying it forward. Starting out as the only artist, Peach’s Neet Feet (PNF) now has numerous artists, including her brother Corey, who donate their time to help paint the shoes. Peach’s Neet Feet is now supported by both Vans and Converse shoes and DecoArt, receiving shoe and paint donations when needed. The organization works with several Children’s hospitals across and outside of the United States.

Her organization was chosen as the winner of the 2012 Random Acts of Kindness Foundation’s Extreme Kindness Challenge in February. This awarded Peach’s Neet Feet the opportunity to work with Story Teller’s for Good to create a story video, showing how a small pair of shoes can make such a large impact, inspiring people all over the world. This video was featured on Karma Tube website along with an article in the Huffington Post Impact. Madison received the Good Samaritan Real Heroes Award for 2012 for Northwest New Mexico in the month of May. Madison has also had the honor to paint two pairs of Vans shoes for Deepak Chorpa and has donated nearly 700 pairs of shoes to children in just two years.

Madison is a young philanthropist who really just wants to live a purposeful life, to inspire quietly with fierce passion and to change the world. Peach’s Neet Feet is internationally known, planting seeds, scattering kindness and bringing smiles to the faces of children all over

Corey Smith

Corey Smith, is a guest artist for PNF, and tries to assist in painting at least 3 or 4 shoes a month. He is a DMAD student and has a passion for music, creating snowboarding videos and any digital media. He lives for the snow and riding. (check him out on Vimeo). I am excited to have him on board to help get more shoes to deserving children.

Ruben Gomez

I live in Denver, CO and I love anything to do with the outdoors (hiking, fishing, cycling, etc.). I do this for the kids in memory of my son, Daniel. He was one of Peach’s fighters. I also do this for myself, because I love to see the smiles on these kids when they see their Neet Feet.

Angela Barger

Angela Barger is a guest artist for Peach’s Neet Feet. She lives in Richmond, Kentucky and has a wonderful husband and three four-legged children.

Angela believes that intentional (and sometimes irrational) acts of kindness can change a person’s outlook on life and she is beyond overjoyed to have found her place in an organization that puts her God-given talents to a good use.

In addition to painting shoes, Angela also delivers shoes (and smiles) to children at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville.

Angela is “in it for the long haul” and loves to see the lives of children changed on a daily basis!

Caitlin Veazey

Already on the prowl for the perfect cause to contribute her art and time to, Caitlin knew fate had shown her exactly what she was looking for when she was introduced to Peach’s Neet Feet.

Caitlin is an avid graphic designer, painter, tattoo artist, illustrator and a very busy bee. She loves all forms of art & design, and is passionate about teaching, sharing and spreading her knowledge and talents. As busy as her freelance work keeps her, she now donates her time to paint one pair of shoes per week, and considers it her *highest* paying gig.

You view Caitlin’s work or find out more about her at caitlinveazey.com

Katelyn

I am an artist who loves to do a variety of things - drawing, photography, wood carving, customizing basketballs… and, of course, painting! I also studied ballet for 15 years and after graduating from high school in my hometown of Littleton, Colorado, I headed to New York City. There I attended Pace University and Joffrey Ballet School. I graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts and truly feel honored that I can use my skills to paint shoes for Peach’s Neet Feet fighters!

I found out about PNF when a beautiful young woman, KayLeigh Synnott, received her pair. Every pair of shoes I paint is in her honor <3

Arotin Hartounian

Arotin Hartounian is a young artist based in Glendale, California. Arotin has been in love with art from a young age and is now devoting his life to becoming the professional artist he always dreamt of being as a child. Arotin has been painting custom shoes as a personal business for over five years now. Upon discovery of Peach’s Neet Feet he knew that he had to volunteer his time, skill, and love to bring a smile to the faces of children who need it the most. Alongside managing his custom painting shoe business called Hart Custom Shoes, he paints beautiful pairs for the kiddos of PNF as a way of reminding himself of the magic and healing powers of art that he fell in love with as a child.

Terrah Major

Melissa Silversmith Firestone

I am from Farmington, NM and I love my community so much. There are so many special people here that I find a new reason to be appreciative of this area every day. One instance, in particular, was when I heard about Peach’s Neet Feet. I always thought that I would have to leave Farmington in order to do something through art that would make a positive impact on people’s lives. I’ve been painting for as long as I can remember. Lately, my work has been inspired by figures such as Gandhi and Mother Theresa. However, these works were just sitting in my living room with no one to speak to but me. Then, as destiny would have it, I met Madison a.k.a Peach. As soon as I heard her story, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I found a way to…

“Be the change I (you) want to see in this world”. – Gandhi… I just want to make a difference, one piece of art/pair of shoes, at a time.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” - Margaret Mead

In addition to painting shoes for Peach’s Neet Feet, Melissa also runs a painting party business, “Palettes and Paint”. Check out www.palettesandpaint.com for more information.

Laurie Nokovic

My name is Laurie Nokovic and I live in Necedah, Wisconsin. My husband and I co-own Book Bog, LLC, a bookstore / coffee shop in Tomah, Wisconsin. I love being a part of Madison’s mission with Peach’s Neet Feet. I use my down-time at the store to paint shoes. Music and art have both been important to me. They help me keep it together in everyday life. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share my love of art with Peach’s Neet Feet. It’s rewarding to be able to bring happiness and light into the lives of children.

Kathy Reu

Kathy has had a love of art since childhood. Even at a young age, she spent much time drawing and painting. Art has always been part of Kathy’s life and she believes her artistic talents are a gift from God.

In addition to painting for commissions, painting sets and doing make-up for the local high school, Kathy worked as a library technician for 18 years. Upon retiring in 2012, Kathy increased her level of volunteer work. Kathy has always been involved in her local community and served others around her, but is now able to spend more time volunteering and serving other people and organizations. She enjoys helping others and sharing her gifts and blessings.

Her love of art and sharing is what brought Kathy to become a volunteer for Peach’s Neet Feat. Having lost several family members and friends to cancer and other chronic-debilitating diseases, Kathy believes volunteering for Peach’s Neet Feet is the perfect fit for her.

Kathy was wife to Lowell Reu for 37 years until he lost his battle with cancer in 2005. She is mother to four daughters and grandmother to 9 grandchildren, all of whom support her work as an artist. Kathy resides in Southern Illinois.

Dana Inman

Dana is an artist and creative thinker. She also owns an interior/decorative painting company based in Wheat Ridge, CO.

Check it out here: www.facebook.com/ArtisticMeddling

In 2010, Dana’s husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the head and neck and Stage 1 T-Cell Lymphoma. After helping him through his battle for almost 2 years, and seeing him to his victory, Dana has been searching for a way to “give back” to the cancer community. She came across Peach’s Neet Feet and couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fit.

“I am so blessed to be a part of a team full of overwhelming talent and kindred spirits. It fills my HeArt with love to see the amount of excitement, love and gratitude the PNF kiddos show for their one of a kind kicks!”

Leah Martin

After living in Dallas, Chicago, and Munich, Germany, I finally settled down in Farmington, NM in 2010 to go to college. It was through one of my classmates, Corey, that I was introduced to Peach’s Neet Feet.

All my life, nearly every hobby I had, had something to do with art. Whether it was drawing comics, sketching characters from my Warhammer books, or drawing all over my sneakers with Sharpies, I was expressing myself artistically. So, naturally, I knew that Peach’s Neet Feet was the pefect way for me to pay it forward and be creative at the same time.

I’ve always loved helping people, but never quite knew how to really make a difference. Being able to make a child’s difficult journey through long-term illnesses and disabilities a little bit easier is the least I can do. Not only have I helped them, but they have helped me in many ways as well. I hope to always paint for Peach’s Neet Feet and be a part of this wonderful community of kindness. I hope that everyone, who gets to know our organization, will be inspired to find their own personal way of paying it forward.

Jed Childers

Paul Codispoti