At Safelite, we delight in making connections with people who inspire us and organizations we believe in. And our partnership with The Alicia
Rose Victorious Foundation (ARVF) is one we’re especially pleased to support.
Honoring a courageous young lady who lost her battle with cancer at age 17, Alicia Rose DiNatale’s legacy lives on through the organization bearing her name. Alicia’s parents, Mario and Gisele DiNatale, created the Foundation to brighten long days for hospitalized teens.
That goal led to the “rollout” of the Alicia’s Art Cart program. Filled to the brim with art supplies, these eye-catching carts built by volunteers roll the halls of hospitals in communities throughout the country—with more to come—thanks to a partnership with
Safelite.
A longtime friend of the DiNatale family, Safelite Solutions Vice President Client Sales & Support Gary Strain is very involved with the organization, serving as Vice Chairman of the Board—and he’s always happy to include members of the Safelite family to help him support this mission.
“When Gary asked if we wanted to participate in the program, I was somewhat familiar with it from the event District Manager Chris Bailey and his team coordinated in Ft. Worth, Texas,” District Manager Daniel Reyna said. “I’m fairly new to my role and consider Chris my mentor, so we jumped at the chance to be a part of the Alicia’s Art Cart program and follow in his footsteps!”
Not only did our leaders in Lubbock feel inspired to get involved because of the program’s mission and the relationship with others from Safelite supporting it, but because of their connection to the intended recipient of the cart, Covenant Lakeside Children’s Hospital.
“My wife works there, and I was happy to be partnering with them, too,” Daniel said. “The hospital has such solid ties to the community, and I have seen that firsthand through numerous local events my wife has participated in.”
Yet being a part of this program was special not only for Daniel, but for his team as well. Super Center Manager Michael
Hosek’s twin girls were born at that hospital, and the family felt a connection with the staff there during the extended stay afterward. So Michael immediately volunteered to build the cart, while Customer Advocates Terri Bethune, Pamela Smith and Veronica Torres took care of the graphics and final set up.
“It definitely brought the team together,” Daniel said. “We knew that this was going to a great cause and our personal touch will impact the excitement for the patients.”
Safelite associates on hand to deliver the art cart to the hospital included: Daniel Reyna – District Manager; Tim Givens – Store Manager; Michael Hosek – Super Center Manager; Ernest Mahan – Market Supply Chain Manager; Shawn Shofner – Operations Manager; Pamela Smith – Customer Advocate.
Ernest shared a few words at the reveal event in the hospital media room: “On behalf of Safelite AutoGlass, we are proud to be a part of the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation. Safelite is a Nationally Powered and Local Driven company and we jumped at the chance to participate in this event alongside Covenant Hospital. Covenant has been a vision of a ‘caring heart’ in Lubbock and the surrounding communities, which is one of our values as well. It is a privilege to be partnered with a great foundation along with an amazing partner with Covenant Health.”
The local NBC news channel also took notice of the event, complete with television coverage!
But for our Lubbock team, the patients' reaction meant much more than any publicity ever could. Especially when they met a hospital patient named Mya, who assisted with unveiling the cart and helped serve refreshments. “She was a beautiful little girl, and it was touching to see the excitement on her face and her passion for art!” Daniel said.
“The Safelite team gave her a hug and high fives, and we were all inspired by her positive attitude and energy,” he said.
“We also took some time to speak with her mother and shared how fortunate we felt to have met them.”
Lubbock team members plan to revisit the hospital later this year and participate in some art events. “We have a solid contact with the Hospital and we want to get back there before the year is over,” Daniel said. “We want to see the excitement from the kids as they interact with the Art Cart. Maybe we can get some great drawings or paintings and place them in our CTU!”
Overall, their participation in the program made a lasting impression on Daniel. “It’s great to be partnered with their passion to
make each day the best possible day for patients!” he said. “I believe that a smile is contagious and seeing Mya brightened up our
day and inspired us to always wear one ourselves!”
He went on to share one of his favorite quotes: “Let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile.”
That’s something a patient named Mya does so incredibly well.
For more information about Alicia’s Art Cart, visit www.victoriousfoundation.org/artcart.
Source article written and published by Safelite AutoGlass The Wire.
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About Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation
Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation (ARVF, Corp.) is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization founded in 2002. ARVF is dedicated to providing age-appropriate Victorious 4 Teens programs, for hospitalized teens and young adults, battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Since inception, over $2.5m has been dedicated to Victorious 4 Teens programs, including funding 65 Teen Lounges, located at children’s hospitals in 38 states across the country. ARVF also distributes over 2000 Teen Kits & Bandana Pillows annually to hospitalized teens and young adults. For more information about ARVF and to find out how you can help hospitalized teens, visit www.victoriousfoundation.org.