Society > Charities
LN Charity Awards: Volunteer: Corie Fusz
Little Bit Foundation
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:33 AM CDT
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| Corie Fusz |
The Christian Brothers College (CBC) soccer team was the source not just of the founders of the Little Bit Foundation, but one of its longtime volunteers, Corie Fusz. Her son played with the boys of co-founders Rosemary Tierney and Elise Hanley. When Fusz heard that the two women were collecting coats three years ago, she went through her closets, pulled some items, and dropped them off at the athletic closet at CBC where the foundation sorts and stores its inventory.
“I was sort of blown away because I didn’t realize how much it had expanded,” says Fusz. What had started as a one-time coat drive for the St. Patrick Center was now an organization serving schools around the city, providing clothes, hygiene items, books and other supplies to needy kids.
After Fusz made her donation, Tierney called and asked if she’d like to volunteer. “I volunteered one day, and then went back,” Fusz says. “It went from going on Tuesdays to going on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” She’s stayed three years, she says, because of the looks on kids’ faces when they get their new clothes. “We take off all the tags, but they know they have new clothes,” she says. “If we can give them something that they feel proud of, it helps with their self-esteem.”
At the foundation’s ‘home-base’ at CBC, Fusz fills orders from schools and processes the donations received, deciding what to keep and what to pass on. Much of what’s donated, she says, goes to the Salvation Army, since giving kids gently used or new clothing without holes or stains is a priority. “It’s got to be clean and fresh,” she says.
When she goes into a school to see the results of her work, Fusz says the response is unforgettable. “These kids get so excited when we come in,” she says. “They don’t even know me. It’s just a wonderful feeling when you go in to see the excitement the kids have.”
Fusz is also on the board of the Little Bit Foundation, and she has served on the board of the Woman’s Exchange as well, where she was in charge of consignment for 11 years. She recently exited the board of the Service Bureau, where she was president. “I believe in giving back,” she says. “I’ve been very blessed, and I just enjoy volunteerism. It’s funny, I just took up bridge but it’s not my nature to say, I’m going to play bridge and golf four days a week. I like to be involved in my community.”
“I was sort of blown away because I didn’t realize how much it had expanded,” says Fusz. What had started as a one-time coat drive for the St. Patrick Center was now an organization serving schools around the city, providing clothes, hygiene items, books and other supplies to needy kids.
After Fusz made her donation, Tierney called and asked if she’d like to volunteer. “I volunteered one day, and then went back,” Fusz says. “It went from going on Tuesdays to going on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” She’s stayed three years, she says, because of the looks on kids’ faces when they get their new clothes. “We take off all the tags, but they know they have new clothes,” she says. “If we can give them something that they feel proud of, it helps with their self-esteem.”
At the foundation’s ‘home-base’ at CBC, Fusz fills orders from schools and processes the donations received, deciding what to keep and what to pass on. Much of what’s donated, she says, goes to the Salvation Army, since giving kids gently used or new clothing without holes or stains is a priority. “It’s got to be clean and fresh,” she says.
When she goes into a school to see the results of her work, Fusz says the response is unforgettable. “These kids get so excited when we come in,” she says. “They don’t even know me. It’s just a wonderful feeling when you go in to see the excitement the kids have.”
Fusz is also on the board of the Little Bit Foundation, and she has served on the board of the Woman’s Exchange as well, where she was in charge of consignment for 11 years. She recently exited the board of the Service Bureau, where she was president. “I believe in giving back,” she says. “I’ve been very blessed, and I just enjoy volunteerism. It’s funny, I just took up bridge but it’s not my nature to say, I’m going to play bridge and golf four days a week. I like to be involved in my community.”
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