About Us

Mission

The mission of SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc. is to serve as lifelong advocates for people with developmental disabilities who cannot acquire needed services independently. We will work with persons with developmental disabilities, their families, and other service providers to achieve a happy, safe and fulfilled life for those we serve. Our organization promotes and preserve the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities and expands their opportunities and life choices.

History

SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, was created in 1989 in response to requests from parents for local guardianship services for their adult children with developmental disabilities. The organization was founded as an independent member of the SCARC family of services with its own separate Board of Trustees. Parents needed to know that someone would be there to look out for the best interests of their children when they could no longer do so because of their own incapacity or death.

Eight years later, SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc. responded to the needs of the community once again and reorganized as a community trust agency. This allowed the organization to continue to provide guardianship services as well as trustee services. The organization is now able to meet the needs of families by preparing them for the financial futures of their loved ones with developmental disabilities.

Around the same time, families involved with the agency expressed their needs and frustrations with the legal process of becoming the guardian of their adult family members with developmental disabilities. SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc. responded by developing and offering our Pro Se Legal Advocacy Program. The Pro Se program provides hands-on guidance and assistance with the confusing and intimidating process of becoming the legal guardian of their loved ones while taking into consideration the financial status of each family.  SCARC Guardianship Services makes sure that every family that needs to obtain guardianship of their loved one achieves it regardless of financial status.

Today, SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc. is the guardian of more than 50 individuals who reside in Sussex County or one of the surrounding counties (including Morris and Somerset) and we have provided Pro Se services to over 1200 families in Sussex, Morris, Warren, Passaic, and Hudson counties.

Additionally, SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc. is serving as the trustee for 54 people with an individual special needs trust, a supplemental benefits trust, or who are enrolled in the SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc. Master Trust.

Generously Supported By:


Donors

Funds

This endowment fund was established in 2002 in memory of Pasquale (Pat) T. Romano Sr. by his wife, Susan, and his six children.  Pat was an avid supporter of SCARC services and assisted many families in obtaining the supports that their children needed. As these children grew into adults, Pat proudly followed their progress and of the role of SCARC services in their success.  For the last forty-five years of his life, Pat was an unflagging ally of individuals with developmental disabilities and a vocal advocate within the community for their needs.

The interest from the Pasquale T. Romano, Sr. Endowment Fund is utilized for programs and services provided by SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc.  The principle will never be invaded.

 

Find out more about contributing to the Pasquale T. Romano Endowment Fund

If you would like to make a contribution of cash, securities, life insurance, life income gifts, or real estate to the Pasquale T. Romano Sr. Endowment Fund or one of our other endowment funds, please contact Chris Hemmer at 973-383-7442 x260 or [email protected].

Please consult professional advisors regarding the applicability of any item listed above to your own situation. All consultations with the SCARC Foundation, Inc. will be handled in a confidential manner.

Established in 2003, this endowment fund honors Gloria Romano’s advocacy for people with developmental disabilities in Sussex County, and her passion for raising funds to support SCARC services.  Gloria and her husband, Pat, had five children, the oldest having a developmental disability. Gloria served on the Board of Trustees of SCARC, Inc. until her untimely death. She was instrumental in establishing SCARC’s first group home, and was dedicated to raising funds for SCARC programs and services.

The interest from the Gloria J. Romano Endowment Fund is utilized for programs and services provided by SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc.  The principle will never be invaded.

 

Find out more about contributing to the Gloria J. Romano Endowment Fund

If you would like to make a contribution of cash, securities, life insurance, life income gifts, or real estate to the Gloria J. Romano Endowment Fund or one of our other endowment funds, please contact Chris Hemmer at 973-383-7442 x260 or [email protected].

Please consult professional advisors regarding the applicability of any item listed above to your own situation. All consultations with the SCARC Foundation, Inc. will be handled in a confidential manner.

The family of Wilburt (Bill) F. Vollmer established this endowment fund in his name to honor a kind man who was committed to assisting community members needing help, and lending encouragement to individuals without family of their own.  A humble and hard-working man, Bill was passionate about the New York Giants, the New York Yankees, Lionel Trains, and most of all, his family. Married for fifty-four years to his high school sweetheart, Bill was the father of two, including long-time SCARC supporter, Susan Romano, and grandfather and step-grandfather to seven, including Thomas, a former SCARC service recipient.

The interest from the Wilburt F. Vollmer Endowment Fund is utilized for programs and services provided by SCARC Guardianship Services, Inc.  The principle will never be invaded.

 

Find out more about contributing to the Wilburt F. Vollmer Endowment Fund

If you would like to make a contribution of cash, securities, life insurance, life income gifts, or real estate to the Wilburt F.Vollmer Endowment fund or one of our other endowment funds, please contact Chris Hemmer at 973-383-7442 x260 or [email protected].

Please consult professional advisors regarding the applicability of any item listed above to your own situation. All consultations with the SCARC Foundation, Inc. will be handled in a confidential manner