Barth Award goes to Elgin volunteer helping families, domestic abuse victims

While working on a volunteer program about 11 years ago for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, Carolyn Fabian said the organization came up with the slogan “Creating Partnerships that Change Lives.”

“Ever since then, it's something I kind of lived into,” Fabian said.

The Elgin resident has built up an impressive track record of creating partnerships through volunteer work to help children and families, so much so that Tri-City Family Services has honored her with its most prestigious award.

Fabian was named recipient of the 31st annual William D. Barth Award for community service during a dinner event Thursday night in Geneva.

“This award is really only possible by the partnerships I have with all of you,” Fabian told those in attendance. “Let's keep changing lives.”

Fabian has made Geneva the home of her most recent labor of love — the ReHome Center, where volunteers, many her family members, collect donated furnishings to deliver to families in need.

The idea for the ReHome Center came about during last year's Barth Award ceremony when Fabian first met last year's winner Joanne Spitz. She asked if the CHIP IN organization, steered by Spitz to help homeless Batavia students, could make use of donated furniture.

“Joanne mentioned the idea in her acceptance speech at the Barth Award, and everyone knew right away that I was somehow behind it,” Fabian said.

The ReHome Center works with agencies like TriCity Family Services, CHIP IN, and Open Door Clinic, as well as Batavia and Elgin school districts.

“The names of those in need have to come to us through an agency, and they alert us that they have someone who is moving from homelessness into a home finally,” Fabian said.

“Or, it may be someone or a family that has the bare minimum of an apartment, but can't afford to furnish it,” Fabian added.

Much of Fabian's desire to help others stems from her own personal experience as a victim of domestic abuse about 14 years ago. It steered her to volunteer work at Turning Point, which helped her in that time of need.

She didn't stop there. Fabian helped develop a court appointed special advocates program in McHenry County after volunteering for one in Lake County, and also became active in various local global efforts to help those with AIDS through First Congregational Church of Geneva, United Church of Christ.

Other Barth Award nominees recognized were Kevin Gaffney, Carolyn Nagle and Byron Saum.

Gaffney has been active on St. Charles parks and heritage boards, as well as being a longtime supporter of the Salvation Army.

Nagle is the executive director of the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association and has devoted much of her life to clubs and organizations that help disabled adults.

Saum is a retired Aurora Police Department officer and deputy chief with more than 30 years of volunteer work serving the Aurora community. Since 1992, he has been active with the Visiting Nurses Association Health Care board, pushing the agency's mission of providing health care regardless of a person's ability to pay.

The evening included some reflection on longtime TriCity Family Services supporter Jack Young of Geneva, who recently died.

His son Andrew Young delivered an emotional reflection about his father, concluding it by saying, “He was so proud of the work that TriCity Family Services does, and he held it close to his heart.”