Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope (AAFH) launched the 2022 Geneva High School Scholarship Program spearheaded by Mary Jane Johnson, AAFH Board Member. Alyssa was in the 2013 graduating class of GHS. Mary Jane Johnson was Alyssa’s counselor during her 4 years at GHS.
Music was a huge part of Alyssa’s life, and her talent and passion was evident to anyone who heard her play. Alyssa played piano for over 10 years and the violin for 8 years. She was also part of the GHS Orchestra and the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. Alyssa would continue to play her instruments throughout the years of her difficult cancer treatments.
On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, Carmen Ziegler-AAFH Board Member and Yoli Alvin-Alyssa’s mom & AAFH President presented Katharine (Katie) O’Brien with a Music Scholarship Award during the Jazz Choir Performance at GHS. Music was an integral part of Katie’s upbringing which is attributed to her mom. However, her mom passed away from cancer when Katie was 11 years old. Katie’s mom encouraged her to sing from an early age. Katie performed in the GHS Varsity and Jazz choirs while at GHS. The $1000 scholarship will be used for Katie’s music therapy studies at Western Michigan University.
On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Yoli attended the GHS Senior Awards 2022 at the GHS Auditorium and presented the Art Scholarship Award to Maddelena (Maddy) Baggio on behalf of AAFH. Maddy expressed her passion for art and how it has positively impacted her life. The $1000 scholarship will be used for Maddy’s graphic design and art education minor at North Central College in Naperville.
After Alyssa came out of a coma and while in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lurie Children’s Hospital, an artist worked with Alyssa and oversaw her creation of a geisha doll sketch. Alyssa completed a collage of the geisha doll from this sketch and was subsequently used as the cover art for the Annual Gallery Night invitation on Friday, June 24, 2011, to raise funds for Lurie Children’s Hospital. Alyssa’s Geisha Collage was replicated and became the center piece at this Annual Gallery Night event and was the highest bid art piece of the silent auction. Today, another replica size 18”x20” Geisha Collage is located on the 12th floor of Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
We established the Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope to bring the joyful gift of music and the visual arts into the lives of other young people battling cancer. We hope to reach as many young patients as possible with the support of everyone who cares to give a bit of hope and joy to these children and young adults going through their medical treatments.
