Biviana Franco Bio

When you meet Biviana “Bivi” Franco, the first thing you notice is her smile. The second thing is her style. Beauty and kindness personify Bivi and are irrevocably the two things that drive her. Born in Colombia, Bivi moved to Atlanta, Georgia with her husband where she would later complete her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design at AIU. Following her degree, Bivi spent 5 years studying classical art and drawing under renowned artist Chris diDomizio. This training opened doors for her natural talent to flourish, and soon Bivi was showing pieces at several galleries in Atlanta. 

The birth of her two sons would serve as a turning point in her career. As she watched her boys grow up, her desire to sell art transformed into a desire to share art, so she piloted two successful art programs for school children in Cobb County as well as served as Artist in Residence for 6 years in Cobb County. During this time, Bivi’s love for art and desire to help others began to blossom into an interest in art within the healthcare system. For four years Bivi volunteered with the nonprofit Foundation for Hospital Art, experiencing the world of nonprofits for the first time and getting a first hand look at the power of art in patients’ lives. This time served as the germination period of a dream that slowly began to take shape in Bivi until in 2010, Bivi walked through one of the hardest times of her life watching two close friends receive a cancer diagnosis and a precious aunt lose her battle to the same disease. This difficult space served as a catalyst for the launch of Bivi’s dream to use art as a vehicle to bring hope and encouragement to women walking through a cancer diagnosis. Art was no longer just a subject of study or a way to make a living; it was a way to change lives. 

This passion gave birth to a growing nonprofit called Feel Beautiful Today and the rolling out of 7 programs. But her work became even more personal when, in 2015, her mom was diagnosed with cancer. Intimately walking with her mom through the journey of treatment options, side effects, and eventually recovery ignited a whole new passion in Bivi to be an advocate for cancer patients and to provide programs that bring life and hope in a very difficult time. This new passion would result in three more programs, including one inspired by her mother’s personal journey with cancer.

Over the last 10 years of founding and leading a nonprofit, Bivi has attacked each new challenge with the same tenacity that made her a successful student and artist. She has earned 4 Certificates in Nonprofit Management and Arts and Health, accumulated several awards honoring Feel Beautiful Today including Best of Roswell and Best Cause, and has been recognized as the runner up for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of Excellence Award as well as a Los 22 Mas recipient, distinguishing her as one of the top 22 Colombians abroad for her nonprofit work with cancer patients. 

Despite these accomplishments, in Bivi’s eyes, her greatest achievements are her two grown sons and every time she locks eyes with a smiling cancer patient finally able to relax and enjoy themself as they work on a program she designed just for them. For Bivi, it is about seeing beauty in the world and having the kindness to share it. Everything else is extra.