Garnet Valley Living Magazine “Brittany Scharr Spreads Joy Through Her BE THE JOY Foundation”
By Rachel Brown
Garnet Valley High School grad (class of 2008), Brittany Scharr, worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years. Two weeks before everything shut down in 2020, she left to pursue other opportunities.
“Even though it was lucky for me that I left when I did, all of my friends were hit financially by the pandemic and were all struggling,” she said, noting that unemployment only covers the base hourly salary of $2.13 but not the tips.
Brittany began fundraising so that she could deliver some high-impact tips of her own. “I was able to hand over envelopes with $100,” she said.
As word of her charity spread, people in the community began to nominate servers and bartenders who were particularly deserving. Brittany noted that she targets those workers first but still hands out envelopes randomly. “Everyone loves getting these and are so grateful, but it’s also been a real morale booster for the community as more people have stepped up to help,” she stated.
To date, Brittany has raised more than $40,000, delivering $100 envelopes to more than 400 local restaurant workers throughout Delaware County. She has now turned this effort into a nonprofit and expanded it to workers in other small businesses. “So many business people were contacting me and asking how they could help,” she said.
To capitalize on this generosity, Brittany began accepting gift cards, tickets to sporting events, and gift certificates for services from businesses, which she uses to hold raffles. “It’s heartwarming how many people want to be a part of this,” she said.
Visit www.facebook.com/BeTheJoyFoundation to learn more about the Joy Foundation.
Caption for the photos:
Brittany and Wookie.
Photo courtesy of Ed Ryder, a professional photographer with TheJobSeller.com
Sidebar:
When Brittany isn’t busy fundraising, she runs a dog-sitting business and offers doggie daycare in her house, overnight pet sitting, dog walks, and even dog pick-ups and drop-offs. Follow her on Instagram @brittsbuddies or email her at brittany@bethejoy_foundation
