Suburban company pitches in for Clearbook

Hundreds of employees from Northbrook-based Astellas Pharma US gathered at Arlington Park on Wednesday, but placing bets and watching horses round the turn was far from their minds.

Instead, the workers assembled care packages and built bookcases to support Clearbrook, a suburban nonprofit that provides services to children and adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The care packages, which include blankets, craft kits, welcome kits, treat bags and Thanksgiving prep packs, will be given to people who receive care through Clearbook. The agency is headquartered in Arlington Heights, but provides services and programming in more 45 facilities spread across 13 counties in Illinois.

The bookcases will be donated for use in Clearbrook facilities.

The work Wednesday was part of Astellas' goal of 10,000 volunteer hours for the company's annual global service initiative, Changing Tomorrow Day.