Attitude of gratitude baked into every endeavor

Baker Industries honors longtime leader at annual fundraiser

It was their third child, son Justin, who got Charlie Baker and his wife, Louise, affectionately known as Weezie, out of retirement back in 1980 and into a business that’s become a top-rated nonprofit for helping others get on, or back on, their feet through working at the couple’s enterprise, Baker Industries.

Having struggled with how to find employment for their own severely epileptic son, the couple decide to establish a business that would give jobs and second chances at a meaningful life to other people with physical or minimally psychological “issues” as well. That outreach has now served hundreds of people in the City of Philadelphia, as well as out in their flagship location in Malvern.

This nonprofit’s goal is always aimed at moving the client on to a better organized, more stable lifestyle while still in the process of learning a skill or trade that will enhance their lives even more. In other words, Baker provides a trusted safety net of employment, exploration and education for those wanting to move on to wiser choices and better management of their skill sets.

This year’s fundraiser for the organization took place at Merion Cricket Club, with a packed audience of supporters who’d come to see Turk Thacher be feted for his 15 years at the helm of the Baker ship.

In honor of Thacher’s longevity with the company and wisdom at capturing what needed to be done to raise awareness surrounding Baker and then executing the steps to do what was needed for the nonprofit, this Devon denizen was recognized with the launch of the John H “Turk” Thacher Education Fund for college interns in need of financial aid.

What’s important to the Bakers, as well as Thacher, is staying firm in the company commitment to finding employment and eventually a sound environment for those who are the most vulnerable when it comes to searching out an appropriate work situation by and for themselves.

Have a packaging job that needs an assist or mailing that’s a tall order for the company? Contact Baker Industries at 610-296-9795.

Fran Hoekstra, of Malvern, arrives at Merion Cricket Club with Connie Clery, of Newtown Square.

The always elegantly hatted Middy Dorrance, of Villanova, stops to speak with John Devereux, of Newtown Square.

F. J. Leto, of Newtown Square, attends the event with Monika Brass and his parents, Anita and Frank, a member of Baker’s board.

Vijay Aggarwal, of Malvern, and his wife, Susan, check out a classic photo of Turk Thacher along with Linda and Carl Teets, of Berwyn.

Caroline Lacey, of Chestnut Hill, and Elizabeth Unger, of Berwyn, consider a bid on Phillies paraphernalia and entry into owners’ box seating for a game.

Liz Grauer, of Philadelphia, and her mom, Nancy Saam, of Haverford, meet up with another mother-daughter pair, Carol Thacher and her offspring, Jamie Saam.

Stacy Clark runs into her Wayne neighbors, Kim Thacher and Kevin Spagnoli.

Wayne women Leslie Morgan, Kelly Clarke and Terry Krieger pass through the check-in area.

Charlie Baker, of Radnor, gets a pat on the back for his years at the helm of his company from Brook Gardner, of Malvern.

Gail Batchelder, of Newtown Square, meets a new friend, Deb Frisby, of Wayne.