Stand Tall with Sarah’s Inn Raises over $93,000 to End Violence

Complete with dazzling decorations and delectable treats, the second annual Stand Tall with Sarah’s Inn signature fundraiser on October 19 was filled with good friends and inspiring conversations. Organized and hosted by an event committee of Oak Park residents, the event raised more than $93,000 for Sarah’s Inn.

“The day began with Board members on ladders and Dudes Makin’ a Difference and New Era student volunteers from Oak Park and River Forest High School moving tables and boxes,” says Sarah’s Inn Board President Dale Hayes Clarke. “The event was a success because of the diversity of people coming together to support our work to make our community a safer place to live.”

More than 200 people attended Stand Tall with Sarah’s Inn, which was located at Cheney Mansion in Oak Park, and over one-third of the donors were new to Sarah’s Inn. The event was supported by over 40 sponsors representing local community members and businesses.

“We are thrilled at the outpouring of support from our community, including all of our generous sponsors who underwrote the event and our local vendors who helped us keep our event costs down through their in-kind donations,” says Sarah’s Inn Development Director Juliet Yera. “As a result, we were able to maximize fundraising for our programs.”

The event featured an original photo essay entitled “How have you been inspired by Sarah’s Inn?” From a survivor of domestic violence seeking options to an adolescent girl standing up to online bullying, each photo subject represented an individual impacted by Sarah’s Inn programs.

Founded in 1981 by Oak Park residents, Sarah’s Inn is a community-driven non-profit that works to break the cycle of domestic violence through crisis intervention, community education, and violence prevention programs. Sarah’s Inn has served local community members affected by domestic violence for decades, and is the curriculum development and teaching partner for cyber-safety and anti-bullying education at Brooks and Julian Middle Schools in Oak Park and other local middle schools, as well as the Step Back violence prevention program at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

“This event was a success because of the people,” says Sarah’s Inn Board member and event committee Co-Chair Kim Green. “Our generous supporters, event committee, and Sarah’s Inn staff all came together to support our mission.”