Founder & Executive Director

S.T.A.R.T. II has a 35-year history that has taken the organization from Marge's garage to a thriving organization with over 100 volunteers and thousands of lives saved.

Marge was volunteering with the original S.T.A.R.T. organization when she decided to strike out on her own, to address some of the more pressing spay/neuter needs she felt were not being taken care of by the group. She named her effort S.T.A.R.T. II, and working out of her garage, she began taking in strays from the Elmwood Park area. Working together with Donna Eliot, they had these cats spayed or neutered, released the ferals, and kept the friendly ones to adopt out into loving homes. The occasional dog was also welcomed and re-homed. When Marge visited the Caribbean on vacation, she would always end up bringing stray cats back with her to adopt out.

Marge recognizes that it is the volunteers that keep S.T.A.R.T. II thriving after all these years. "I could not do what I do without their dedication and hard work" she says. "Each and every one of them makes a difference in saving lives. Some days it seems like we can't get on top of all the work that needs to be done in the areas we serve. And I know that makes us all frustrated. But then each of us looks into the eyes of a cat or dog who was rescued, and sees that we are making a real difference to that one life, it makes it all worthwhile. Here's to another 35 years!"