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SARET CHARITABLE FUND – A SHORT HISTORICAL REVIEW
SARET Charitable Fund was founded in August 1985. For the past 26 years, the organization has worked tirelessly to provide both emergency and ongoing assistance to needy residents of the western suburbs. This assistance takes many forms: housing (rental assistance, utility payments, motel respite stays), transportation (car donations, insurance, registration, gas cards, car repairs, Metra and Pace tickets and passes), moving expenses (truck rental, helpers), food (gift cards, donated food items), clothing, furniture, infant/toddler supplies and equipment, and nutritional supplements.
In June 2005 the SARET board put in place a new emergency fund dedicated solely to people newly facing disabilities and health challenges, battling loss of income as a result of their new condition(s). This fund was named in memory of Barbara K. Brent, the first executive director of the PADS program in DuPage County. This unique program has been attempting to put in place adequate funding to people with grave health problems until they can procure alternate sources of income such as social security disability insurance, worker’s comp or court settlements. Currently in 2011, among the aid recipients are two kidney transplant clients, a Warrenville family with husband awaiting a liver transplant, and an Iraq war veteran. Three of SARET’s staff also face health challenges, but have been a tremendous asset to the store and charity.
In November 2007 the SARET board agreed to open a not-for-profit retail jewelry and gift store called Saret Treasures of Hope in the Baker Hill Shopping Center on Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn. In April 2010, the Saret store and charity offices moved to downtown Glen Ellyn. Through Saret Treasures of Hope, Chana Bernstein, SARET president and founder, and Diane Kafka, store manager and jewelry designer, have provided training opportunities and employment for many individuals, including several people who are living with disabilities. All net proceeds from the Saret Treasures of Hope store are used to support the Saret Charitable Fund.
In 2009, SARET decided to “share the wealth” and offer the Saret Treasures of Hope store as a venue for fundraising opportunities to other local nonprofit organizations and as a job creator for people with disabilities. Organizations receive a minimum of 25% of store sales up to a maximum of 40%, based on the total purchase amounts by their supporters during the fundraising event. Thus far, Saret Treasures of Hope has hosted fundraising events for the Community Housing Association of DuPage (C.H.A.D.), the Glen Ellyn League of Women Voters, a women’s group from the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn, the YWCA, and Family Shelter Services, located in Wheaton. Future fundraising events for other nonprofit organizations are in the planning stages.
Even though the local, national, and global economic problems of the past few years have made funding a difficult challenge for the SARET Charitable Fund, the organization has opened its heart and the Saret Treasures of Hope retail store to help other struggling nonprofit organizations on a year-round basis. SARET is definitely pioneering new ground in its efforts to positively impact the philanthropic and fundraising processes of local charities as well as the broader philanthropic culture within the western suburbs.
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