The People of Color-IT, a Constellation employee interest group assembled Alyssa Starter Art Kits (SAKs) for donations to local area hospitals in Chicago on Thursday, October 30 2025. A total of 45 employees participated in putting together 200 Alyssa SAKs at the Boeing Office Building in Chicago, Illinois. A special “Thank You” goes out to Constellation leadership-Steve Irby-IT Director and Aruna Kurella-IT Manager, our Volunteer Team-Dannie Pickett, Adaora Nwaka and Synaka Reeves, for planning and organizing this volunteer event and AAFH Volunteer-Tim Egan for attending and giving the presentation on behalf of Alyssa’s foundation and Michael Munro for driving Constellation volunteers to the facilities. Yolanda Alvin, a member of POC-IT is a Senior Project Manager at Constellation’s IT Group, founder and President of the Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope (AAFH) organization for the past 10 years.
Constellation purchased the materials for 200 Alyssa Starter Art Kits (SAKs) – 100 coloring book kits and 100 journal kits – and the POC-IT members assembled the Alyssa SAKs as part of a community outreach effort that the company does. We appreciate all the participants who assembled the Alyssa Starter Art Kits (SAKs) which will bring hope and joy to young patients at the medical facilities.
Thursday, October 30th, 50 Alyssa SAKs were delivered to Rush Hospital in Chicago. The next morning, Friday, October 31, 2025 75 art kits were delivered to the Chicago Ability Lab as well as the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Constellation employees previously supported AAFH volunteer events and have made generous donations through matching programs and payroll deductions. We are very appreciative of their continued support of Alyssa’s foundation.
These corporate-sponsored art kit assemblies are always lively, joyful events. The employee volunteers get a chance to hear Alyssa’s story and the work of the foundation created in her memory. The participants come to understand the impact that their gesture has on providing hope to youth who are facing life-threatening illnesses.
The joy in their efforts emanates from the joy that Alyssa lived her own life with. It is deeply moving to see her legacy carried on 10 years later. Please help us make a positive impact on a young cancer patient’s life and bring their spirits up. You can make a donation by going to our website: alyssaalvinfoundationforhope.org.
