On Sunday, October 4th, the Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope (AAFH) hosted the 6th annual Fiesta de Arte at El Molcajete Restaurant in Geneva, IL. The fundraising event included a silent auction featuring a local artist’s work along with various gift baskets donated by friends, supporters, and local businesses. Guests mingled while being fed delicious appetizers and beverages. The StringWorks Quartet from Geneva performed beautiful music for everyone’s enjoyment.
This year’s featured artist, Fatima Figueiredo, lives in Geneva and was born in Brazil. She displayed beautifully painted scenes of nature including fantastic colored works of the Fabyan Japanese Garden along the Fox River in Geneva. Fatima had a previous commitment, but her involvement was made possible by AAFH Board Member, Mary Jane Johnson & her husband, Larry Johnson. Mary Jane was a high school counselor to Alyssa and a bond was created at that time that carries onto this day. Mary Jane and Larry have both been extraordinarily devoted friends and advocates for Alyssa’s Foundation.
This year, we also featured a piece from one of our gift recipients, Kaylah. Kaylah’s younger brother, Kaleb, also got in on the act and donated paintings that helped us raise funds too. We are very grateful to them and we were happy to see their Mom, Damaris, attend La Fiesta de Arte.
We thank StringWorks’ owners Evan & Ibby Lowery, along with musicians, Andrew Ladendorf, Sarah Struebing and Carolyn Berger for donating their performance to our cause. StringWorks is a musical instrument store specializing in violins, violas and cellos.
Alyssa was a skilled violinist and pianist who also developed an interest in the visual arts. These were the activities she loved and became even more important to Alyssa during her cancer treatment. We recognized that there was an important niche to fill in providing critically ill young people with creative outlets and that is why we created Alyssa’s Foundation. Through the work of AAFH and our community of friends and supporters, we carry on Alyssa’s legacy of love for the arts.
Thanks go out to all who attended, our sponsors and supporters of this year’s event, especially to our venue host, El Molcajete Restaurant! Please click here SPONSORS for a listing of all our sponsors and supporters.
