QUINCY -- Every bit of profit Elise Sutter makes with her new jewelry business is going to charity.
The Quincy native, a stay-at-home mom, launched the business, Lee Marie, on March 14, and Lee Marie's philanthropic nature quickly began spreading across social media. Sutter felt inclined to donate all of the earnings to nonprofits after hearing about increasing funding cuts Illinois nonprofits have faced recently.
"We're not a nonprofit, but we donate to the nonprofits," Sutter said. "We don't want to see any nonprofit fail."
After expenses are covered, all money the business receives will be donated to a different nonprofit quarterly. The first recipient will be Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois. Sutter has been a big sister for the last six years, and she hopes donating to the Big Brothers Big Sisters will help to bring recognition to the organization.
"I didn't want to be motivated by money," Sutter said. "It was on my heart to give, and my husband and I felt this was right."
Sutter plans to introduce polls on social media to select future recipients of the business' donations.
"We feel like we have been fortunate with what God has given us, and we want to give back," she said.
Sutter, who still spends most of her day caring for the couple's 1 1/2 year old daughter Brynn, switches into business mode when Brynn goes down for her naps. At night, with the help of her husband, Clint, she packages the rings, necklaces and earrings she makes during the day. Lee Marie also sells charms and teething necklaces mothers can wear around their necks.
"I think people like the idea that they know where their money is going," Sutter said.
Lee Marie -- derived from Sutter's childhood nickname and her middle name -- has been in the making since January, when Sutter attended a craft show and saw how much the vendors there loved what they were doing. Sutter has a business degree and has always wanted to become an entrepreneur.
"Ever since I was little, I told myself I would have a business called Lee Marie," she said, "and here it is."
Lee Marie will also be setting up a vendor booth at community events and donating the profits earned during the events back to the organizations in charge. The first event Lee Marie will attend is the Muddy River Riders 3rd Annual Blessing of the Bikes on Saturday, April 21 at the Quincy Knights of Columbus. All proceeds from the event support the Muddy River Riders' Book Bag program, in which the club fills bags with supplies and distributes them to schools.
"This has brought so much joy to our lives," Sutter said, "and it all started at our kitchen table."
More information is available at leemariegiving.com.
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