The Foundation

Our Mission

The Hearts Project Foundation aims to commemorate the 13,068 lives lost to COVID-19 in Arkansas through meaningful art installations. These installations are designed to preserve memories, promote individual and collective healing, raise public health awareness, honor the deceased and their contributions, and highlight the experiences of those who lived through the pandemic.

What We Do

The Foundation partners with schools, universities, nonprofits, and community groups to create and design these works. Installations will be displayed in public spaces such as libraries, galleries, and at community events, accompanied by free informational materials that explain their purpose and promote awareness. While based in Northwest Arkansas, the Foundation seeks to share its message statewide. Activities will be primarily volunteer-led and funded through public donations and grants.

The Hearts Project Foundation aims to commemorate the 13,068 lives lost to COVID-19 in Arkansas through meaningful art installations. These installations are designed to preserve memories, raise public health awareness, honor the deceased and their contributions, and highlight the experiences of those who lived through the pandemic.

The Foundation partners with schools, universities, nonprofits, and community groups to create and design these works. Installations will be displayed in public spaces such as libraries, galleries, and community centers, accompanied by free informational materials that explain their purpose and promote awareness. While based in Northwest Arkansas, the Foundation seeks to share its message statewide. Activities will be primarily volunteer-led and funded through public donations and grants.

Meet the Board

The board of The Hearts Project Foundation plays a vital role in guiding our mission to build an artistic traveling COVID memorial that honors every life lost to COVID-19 in Arkansas and educates Arkansans and beyond about COVID-19’s lasting impacts on their lives. Our board members bring diverse perspectives, professional expertise, and personal dedication to ensuring this work reflects the heart of those we honor. In any nonprofit, a strong board provides more than governance.

It offers leadership, advocacy, and a bridge between the organization and the public it serves. For The Hearts Project Foundation, this means championing creativity, fostering partnerships, and ensuring that each installation not only preserves memory but also inspires healing and connection.

Board of Directors

Click on any image for a short bio.

Chief Artist and Foundation President

Monica Moore
Stace Treet, Vice Chair
Vice Chair

Stace Treat
Jon Boldebuck
Treasurer

Jon Boldebuck
Joel Doelger

Joel Doelger
Board Advisor

Katrina Berberick

Chief Artist and Foundation President

Monica Moore

I am the acting executive director/president of the Hearts Project Foundation. I am also the chief/founding artist of the Hearts Project: A COVID-19 Memorial.

As the founding artist of the Hearts Project, it is important to note that my motivation for cutting paper hearts to preserve and create memory was inspired by my visit to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan when in high school. This trip informed my understanding of the multidimensional ways art can be used to honor lives lost during tragic events. I believe that many COVID deaths could have been avoided had we resolved to do things differently. The Foundation’s mission of using the memorial art to help educate diverse groups about how to avoid similar catastrophe and massive loss in the future is one I wholeheartedly support.

I bring key insights to the Board as the chief/founding artist of the Hearts Project: A COVID-19 Memorial. Being intertwined with making and circulating the art helps me convey intentions, ongoing accomplishments, and hopes for the future to promote our good work. I enjoy working in groups and look forward to using my leadership skills to help the Board carry out its mission.

Tom Frentz is my spouse, and the Hearts Project and Hearts Project Foundation exist in large part because of his encouragement and belief in me. Mostly, I work on the Hearts Project, a necessary way to spend my time given the scope of the memorial and our ambitious goals. I love to garden and often take pictures of the blossoms as each year goes by. I also love frolicking around the house with our indoor boy-cat Shadow.

One word — Hope

Stace Treet, Vice Chair

Vice Chair

Stace Treat

Director of Interpretation,
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art


I joined the board at the request of our Chair and President, Monica Moore, to support and champion this meaningful project and help it grow. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, writing, and spending time with friends. I’m also a foodie who loves a great meal paired with good wine.

One phrase — Meaningful memorial project through art.

Jon Boldebuck

Treasurer

Jon Boldebuck

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with
Teacher Insurance and Annuity Association 

I joined the board because I deeply believe in the mission to commemorate and honor those we lost and those who served during the pandemic through the universal language of art. My goal is to help build a strong foundation so the Hearts Project Foundation can expand its reach and impact for generations to come.

Outside of my professional life, I’m a husband and father of two who enjoys competitive fitness and traveling the U.S. in my fully converted cargo van.

One word — Reflection

Joel Doelger

Joel Doelger

I’m currently 3 years into my retirement. I worked for over 22 years at Credit Counseling of Arkansas until my retirement.

I strongly feel that the COVID pandemic had a profound impact on all of us. And while it’s tempting to want to put it all behind us, we need to continue to explore the lessons learned from the experience. Furthermore, we should remember those we lost to the pandemic as well as acknowledge those who bravely stepped into the breach to prevent the crisis from being worse.

Having designed and constructed the first three frames to hold the initial batch of hearts panels, I want to stay involved in the process of overseeing the construction of future frames. I also want to see how the project expands beyond the initial steps.

I’ve been involved in woodworking since about 1970. My wife, Jean, and I purchased our current home about 25 years ago. We parked our cars in the garage the first night we owned it, but since then, the “garage” has served as my woodshop.

One word — Respect.
Respect for those we lost in the pandemic. Respect for those who served above and beyond the call for duty during the pandemic. And respect for those who continue to suffer physical and emotional scars from our shared experience.

Board Advisor

Katrina Berberick

Group Director Account Service, Accenture Song

Katrina Berberick brings a wealth of marketing and promotional experience, having worked with high-profile accounts such as Kimberly-Clark, Kraft, Unilever, General Mills, Blue Buffalo, Coke, and Nestle. With 20 years in the NWA market, she has led agency teams to produce award-winning campaigns (Effie, Path to Purchase) through innovative approaches that meet KPIs, alongside achieving sales and relationship success. In her current role, she leads client and business development for the local Accenture Song Production Studio, working closely with Walmart to create compelling content across multiple categories and private brands.

Katrina chose to join the board for two main reasons. Monica and Tom have been part of her life since graduate school at the University of Arkansas. Tom Frentz was a key professor and master’s thesis advisor, while Monica was a fellow student who became a dear friend. Seeing Monica’s artistic endeavors and vision bloom over the years has been a privilege, making the decision to become an advisor to the board, and then a board member, an easy one.

My hope is that this role expands my marketing experience to new areas and benefits the foundation in doing so, while giving back through art, memorial, and community.

Outside of work, Katrina enjoys spending time with her family, often focusing on her kids’ activities. She loves exploring new trails and waterfalls in the area, attending live music events, and trying new restaurants around town. And when schedules align, grab dinner and drinks with Monica and Tom.

Legacy

Tom Frentz, Co-Founder

December 3, 1938 – August 6, 2026

 

Co-Founders Monica Moore and Tom Frentz photo by Andrew Kilgore

Photos by Andrew Kilgore

Tom Frentz by Andrew Kilgore

No one believed in memorializing Arkansans who lost their lives to Covid-19 and the experiences we lived through more than Thomas S. Frentz (Tom).

He was a patron of the arts for many years before becoming co-founder of The Hearts Project Foundation. And during those many years, Tom supported the nonprofit’s co-founder and principal artist of the Hearts Project COVID-19 Memorial, Monica Moore–always praising her ability and vision as an artist working in diverse artistic media.

The eventual Covid-19 memorial Monica dreamed of creating inspired Tom to support her in completing what she started in the spring of 2020, cutting individual paper hearts to ameliorate the hurt she felt during a pandemic when people were vulnerable and divided. When Monica would sometimes question her ability to bring the now large-scale memorial to completion, Tom would affirm her efforts time and again. And he would make the nonprofit and first many frames of the memorial possible through intrinsic and extrinsic support coupled with an unwavering conviction in the value of the work.

We are devoted to finishing what we started, and we are forever grateful for Tom and all he gave to Monica and The Hearts Project Foundation.

Explore the installations and see how you can get involved.

LEARN MORE

Book Our Exhibits

Interested in sharing The Hearts Project COVID-19 Memorial and the Life Styles Collection in your space? Fill out our form with the best way to connect and we’ll reach out to you as soon as possible.