The Chic Charity Club: New Heights-Based Organization Combines Fun with Fundraising

Neighbors and good friends Donna Gasser and Maria Alvarez were in search of a way to help others while also having fun in the process. They have both been involved with some existing groups in town but then one day it occurred to them that they can start their own non-profit organization with their own vision.

And the Chic Charity Club was born.

Both Alvarez and Gasser, co-founders and co-presidents of this brand new group which has officially launched this month are busily preparing for the group’s first big event. They already  have 12 members and membership is growing through word of mouth. The group’s executive board is made up of seven members all who chose their own positions said Gasser.

“We want to make every fundraiser we do fun for everyone and fun for (members) to work on,” said Gasser.

The Chic Charity Club will host its first event May 11 – a SpringFling at the Landmark in East Rutherford, a benefit for the Valerie Fund, an organization that supports health care services for children with cancer and blood disorders. The event will feature more than 40 vendors selling jewelry, clothing, handbags, pet accessories,  children’s accessories and more. Representatives from Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple and PartyLite will also be there.

Alvarez said each vendor has agreed to donate an item for the club’s raffle that night. The $25 admission price covers entrance fee, cocktail hour and raffle tickets.

They are also planning a clothing drive for May 21 to benefit the Hasbrouck Heights food pantry. Gasser and Alvarez said they plan to do about two to three big events each year and three to four smaller events in between.

They stressed that they are in no way looking to compete with existing clubs in town which already have established regular events every year as they are looking to go in a whole different direction.

Also the group isn’t just limited to Hasbrouck Heights. Most members currently hail from the borough but they do have a member from Pompton Lakes and a member from Nutley. Members are welcome from any area provided they want to be involved.

This club isn’t tied to one charity as they will host events to benefit several different causes. They also hope to raise awareness to groups and causes in need. Once their web site (www.thechiccharityclub.com) is complete they plan to post information about various diseases and causes that people may not otherwise really be aware of.

The two worked together to get this thing off the ground and they really found they make a great team. Gasser has the creative ideas and Alvarez likes to put things in motion and they both share the same vision for this group.

Alvarez took care of all the research that was involved in getting the paperwork started. She spoke to lawyers and got advice and filed the paperwork herself. Both women said they have had great support from their husbands and families as well.

Alvarez says the work they are doing also sets a good example for their own children. “It’s good for them to see that we are working hard for a purpose,” she said.

Future events will also be geared towards the entire family as they envision hosting a dinner dance around the holiday time for all the members and their spouses perhaps benefiting Toys for Tots, Gasser said. They also hope to work with the women and children’s hospital in Hackensack University Medical Center on ways to get their own children involved with helping children at the hospital.

“The only way to really get to know people is to get involved and this opens the door,” Gasser said.  

The group will meet monthly on the second Thursday of the month. As of April 14, the Chic Charity Club will meet at the library meeting room at 7 p.m. For more information contact info@thechiccharityclub.com.

“Those that want to be involved are welcome to join us,” said Alvarez.