(WBBM NEWSRADIO) —It’s called Earn with a Purpose.
Russell Karlins, a co-founder of the organization, said it all started a year ago when some families in the Naperville area got together to help another family.
“And they have a son named Peter who just turned 18 years old. And Peter has some diverse developmental abilities. They were trying to find some job opportunities for Peter.”
And not finding anything.
“And they said, ‘Well, let’s just create something and see if we can’t help others. Because if Peter’s struggling to find something that works for him, there’s probably others in the same situation.’”
Earn with a Purpose was born. The organization developed a website and sold hand sanitizer.
It hired Peter and a 20-year-old named William.
They packaged the sanitizer.
“If it’s a local delivery, being like a 10-mile radius of Naperville, they would deliver it to the client,” Karlins explained.
He said William is a sales person extraordinaire — pitching on social media and emphasizing that a purchase of sanitizer gets you a freebie.
Now, they’re selling other things, like granola.
Karlins says William and Peter are earning a paycheck.
“And it’s really life-changing for both of them.”
Earn with a Purpose is looking to expand outside the Naperville area. But Karlins says it will take the commitment of more families.
“We would love to have five to ten more employees within the next year,” Karlins said.
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