ABOUT

Mission Statement:

The specific charitable, scientific, literary, and educational objectives of this non-profit corporation, which was initially created by the inspiration of a little girl named Alyssa Jadyn Hagstrom who was born with a rare condition called Arthrogryposis which left her with no use of her legs and arms and limited use of her fingers, is to use the art of photography, video and online media to raise awareness and funds for those in need.  Photography allows people to connect in a way they otherwise could not.  A single image can speak magnitudes about what life is like for others.  It is our hope that these images will inspire people to help make an impact on someone else’s life. Within a collaborative nature, we hope to give a voice to those who cannot due to their limited capacity.

How we came to be:

Jennifer Kaczmarek met Alyssa Hagstrom soon after her 5th birthday. The two were introduced through a previous project Jennifer was working on, Alyssa was her subject.  Told by several people, “Wait ’till you met her.” As soon as they met,  Jennifer knew what they were speaking about. For someone so young, she possessed an extraordinarily special spirit.

When the project was done, Jennifer felt compelled to do something more. She approached her father with the idea of allowing her to continue photographing Alyssa with the hope of raising money on her behalf. Duane Hagstrom was a single father raising two girls, and doing the best that he could. Alyssa is now 8, and Alexxis is 10 years of age. Duane is a teacher at Flagler High School in Palm Coast, FL. Having made a promise to her father that she would try her best to help, she felt she could not let them down. Over the course time, the ideas and connections began presenting themselves one after another. Taking a leap of faith and putting one foot in front of the other, Jennifer founded this organization.

Jennifer’s hope is that as Alyssa faces the many challenges ahead, this journey will help to keep Alyssa’s amazing spirit alive; a gift she may be able to pass on to others.  A goal that we hope will do the same to those that follow.

Message:

The core of our organization centers on the documentary process. We are creating visual diaries, allowing the viewer to have a window into Alyssa’s world, and the world of others. As stated in our mission statement, I believe photography allows people to connect in a way they otherwise could not. A single image can speak magnitudes about what life is like for others. On a greater level, we hope our organization will help people connect; to be inspired by the idea of what an impact we can make on someone else’s life. We hope you will join us in making a difference.

A quote given to me by my friend, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  (Gandhi)

Thank you,

Jennifer Kaczmarek  ~Founder, Love For Alyssa

This project is dedicated to my dear beloved friend Martin Logan.