Helping Hand Sertoma assists those with disabilities
With just eight members, Helping Hand Sertoma is a fundraising force that collected $50,000 this past year to help people with disabilities.
But while members take great pride in being able to support local groups like Addison's One of Our Own Foundation and special recreation associations, the group knows there's so much more to do. So much more they could accomplish with more members.
The group is a local chapter of Sertoma, a national organization whose name comes from the phrase Service To Mankind. Members pay dues to cover the cost of dinner at their twice-monthly meetings, then raise money to distribute to services and agencies.
Member Don Cutler tells us more about Helping Hand Sertoma's efforts and how you can join in.
Q. What is your mission?
A. While our national organization's mission is to provide support to individuals with communicative disorders, our local chapter focuses on institutions and individuals with any disability. Essentially, our mission is the betterment of the individual, community, state and nation by helping the disabled or those who help the disabled.
Q. How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?
A. Nothing gets accomplished without money. Half of our effort is fundraising. The other half is the distribution of these monies to worthy individuals or nonprofit organizations.
Q. Who do you serve?
A. The Chicago metropolitan area.
Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?
A. Our national organization, Sertoma, was founded April 11, 1912, in Kansas City, Mo. The Helping Hand Sertoma club was established 1933 in Oak Park. Helping Hand Sertoma grew from a few members to more than 70 members by the 1960s.
Our members are successful business people who feel blessed for what they have and want to thank God and nation by doing good to others, especially the disabled.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. We distribute yearly donations to many local nonprofit organizations that help the disabled.
Also, we have donated funds to individuals who are altruistic and then provide a service to the disabled or disadvantaged. For example, last year we paid for the plane ticket of an individual who was donating her time to help the sick and needy in Africa.
Q. What challenges does the organization currently face?
A. Our biggest challenge is membership. Currently, Helping Hand Sertoma has only eight members. If we do not increase membership, we might have to close or merge with another chapter. That would reduce by one a vital support mechanism for Addison and the surrounding communities.
Q. What do you wish the community at large knew about the organization?
A. How easy and rewarding it is to provide a better life for the disabled. Not many people know the Sertoma name, which is derived from the words Service To Mankind. Betterment to society - not publicity - is our purpose, but if we cannot increase membership, the benefit we perform to our communities will no longer exist.
First of all, I want the public to know that 100 percent of monies raised and/or donated are distributed to causes that help people. If a reader wishes to make a donation, no administrative costs are diluted from that donation.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. Our chapter meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Alta Villa Banquet Hall in Addison.
Any inquiries can be mailed to: Helping Hand Sertoma, c/o Alta Villa Banquets, 430 N. Addison Road, Addison, IL 60101. If a reader wishes to join our chapter, please call Don Cutler at (630) 372-8945.
If you go
What: Addison Mayor's Community Charity Ball
When: Nov. 21
Where: Alta Villa Banquet Hall, 430 N. Addison Road, Addison
Cost: $75
Details: Proceeds from the ball are distributed among Addison-based charities including Helping Hand Sertoma
Info: (630) 372-8945 or addisonadvantage.org
Vital stats
Budget: None, members' service is voluntary; membership dues pay for dinners during semimonthly meetings
Funding: Addison Mayor's Community Charity Ball and Helping Hand Sertoma annual banquet and raffle
Amount raised for other organizations: This past year, donated more than $50,000 to groups including Sertoma Centre, Aspire, Orchard Village, Camp Duncan, DuPage PADS, Addison's One of our Own, NEDSRA and SEASPAR
Employees: None
Volunteers: 8
National info: www.sertoma.org
Regular meetings
When: 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday each month; next meeting is Sept. 15
Where: Alta Vista Banquets, 430 N. Addison Road, Addison
Details: Meetings include a sit-down dinner
RSVP: (630) 372-8945
To donate
Helping Hand Sertoma c/o Alta Villa Banquets 430 N. Addison Road Addison, IL 60101
To volunteer
Call: (630) 372-8945
E-mail: doncutler@msn.com