Making paper airplanes at school is usually discouraged by educators, but during AbbVie’s Week of Possibilities, it was part of the curriculum at Evelyn Alexander Elementary School in North Chicago, where dozens of company volunteers mentored students with STEM projects.
Kelly Gallego, the executive program director for North Chicago Community Partners, which partnered with AbbVie on local Week of Possibilities events, said they created a STEM carnival together to help the youngsters creatively learn science, technology, engineering and math.
Among the activities was an engineering challenge, which involved making a paper airplane. Gallego said the students worked with the mentors from AbbVie, a global pharmaceutical company that makes life-saving medicines, to develop aeronautical engineering skills.
“They designed the paper airplane and tested them by throwing them at targets,” Gallego said, as smiles came to the children’s faces when the planes they crafted glided through the air.
AbbVie volunteers at Evelyn Alesander Elementary were among hundreds in Lake County and thousands around the world donating their time Wednesday as part of the company’s annual Week of Possibilities.
With 17,000 volunteer opportunities available for AbbVie’s 57,000 employees, Keya Milla, president of the AbbVie Foundation, said the Week of Possibilities is a time for workers to volunteer in the communities where they work.
With the global corporate headquarters in North Chicago as well as manufacturing facilities, Milla said there is a strong focus on the city and Lake County, as well as other parts of the Chicago area. People wearing blue AbbVie T-shirts were seen around the area all week.
“This is the centerpiece of our community engagement program,” Milla said. “Since the beginning, it has been the mission of our volunteers to provide service in our communities. Our home is Lake County, and we have always advanced our mission in our communities.”
While volunteers were active on Wednesday at 10 locations in Lake County, including four in North Chicago and one in Waukegan, Kathleen Rafferty, the company’s communications director for corporate responsibility and global philanthropy, said there were people assisting around the globe.
Rafferty said volunteers were active on every continent except Antarctica. Besides the United States, countries included Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore and Spain, among others.
Josh Walsh, the company’s head of global patient and community partnerships, said he regularly works with colleagues in places like Dublin, Ireland, and New Jersey. While he was involved on Wednesday in North Chicago, others were volunteering where they work.
“They’re building furniture in a school in New Jersey,” Walsh said. “They’re doing beach cleanups in Dublin. Everybody is really excited about this event. You get to know people who work in places like the finance department. We’re all working together to help our community.”
Giovanna Chandler, the company’s associate director for international public affairs, said the volunteer opportunities are posted on the internal volunteer registration platform. Landing a first choice can be challenging.
“Some of the opportunities fill up very fast, “Chandler said, “It gets competitive. You see what’s there, and if you’re not quick enough, it fills up. A lot of people want to help their community.”
Some of the volunteers at Evelyn Alexander were working with students, helping them through STEM projects which included guiding small cars through magnetic forces, allowing their senses of taste and smell to experience different foods, understanding the physics of throwing balls and rings, as well as flying their paper airplane.
In another room, volunteers were assembling kits for the students to take home. Gallego said the packages included all the elements needed to perform the experiments at home. It does more than reinforce learning.
“This is when the students become the teachers,” Gallego said. “They show their families how it all works.”
During the week, AbbVie volunteers helped build two houses in North Chicago, which will be occupied by families in need of affordable housing. The project is done in conjunction with ReNew Communities, North Chicago Community Partners and AbbVie.
John Ravenaugh, ReNew’s president and executive director, said the organization is dedicated to the “revitalization of North Chicago,” which will be one of the requirements for the homeowners. It is the third year ReNew has been part of the Week of Possibilities.
”This is a coalition effort to help enable the revitalization of North Chicago,” Ravenaugh said. “AbbVie, North Chicago Community Partners and ReNew are focused on this. AbbVie’s support has been amazing.”
Ravenaugh said the homes are designed by Ted Ramai, who is a construction superintendent. The houses are similar to those on the block Ramai did for Habitat for Humanity. AbbVie also provided volunteers to help build a Habitat for Humanity home in Waukegan this week.
Along with Evelyn Alexander, AbbVie volunteers did work at A.J. Katzenmaier Elementary School, and North Chicago Community High School also benefiting North Chicago School District 187.
Other volunteer efforts took place at Bernie’s Book Bank, Cradles to Crayons, Habitat for Humanity in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, the Lake County Forest Preserves, Northern Illinois Food Bank and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland.
