Quorso For Good: Helping alleviate poverty in Chicago.

Fahad Zaidi
Fahad Zaidi 09/16/2019·2 min read
Fahad Zaidi and Phil Thorne representing Quorso.

On August 29, 2019, Phil Thorne and I had the pleasure of representing Quorso at the Cara Summer Social hosted by Cara’s Associate Board. Quorso decided to sponsor the Cara Summer Social after I approached leadership with why and how I’ve been involved with this cause for over 3 years. After hearing how Cara is playing a pivotal role in alleviating poverty in the Chicago area, as well as my personal investment in the cause, it was a no-brainer for Quorso to get behind this cause and sponsor the event.

What is Cara?

For over 25 years, Cara has helped men and women affected by poverty (and often the interrelated challenges of recovery, domestic violence, episodic homelessness, and incarceration) to get and keep good jobs, and more importantly rebuild hope, self-esteem, and opportunity for themselves and their families in the process. Cara produces hundreds of jobs each year at retention rates over 20 points higher than national norms, and with over 70% of employed participants moving on to permanent housing in which their families can thrive. Their results don’t just end with employment. Cara also maintains market-competitive businesses that create gateway jobs for those they serve, and produces a profound social return on investment, where for every dollar invested in this work, $5.74 is re-invested in society over a five-year time horizon.

Cara Summer Social event, Chicago

Why this cause is meaningful to me.

The City of Chicago has given me a lot over the years. In a span of five years Chicago gave me an education, career and lifelong friendships – for which I am enormously thankful. It’s important to me to send the elevator back down and give back to the community that has given me so much. I am very grateful to Quorso for supporting me in this endeavor and being a part of the Cara board and fundraiser is one of the most fulfilling things I have undertaken in recent memory.

Cara's mission to "unlock the power and purpose within communities to achieve real and lasting success" resonates so strongly with how Quorso feels about unlocking human potential no matter where from. We were delighted to help Fahad sponsor a cause that was so important to him and the Chicago community over a great evening put on by the members of the Chicago board.

Phil Thorne, CFO Quorso

A big thank you to Cara staff and the Cara Associate Board for being absolutely fantastic hosts of this event and for allowing us the opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause. We wish Cara and the Associate Board continued success and prosperity in the future.