Over 30 years ago, in the hallway of his insurance office, Daniel A. Sergi overheard a conversation that would spark a philanthropic journey that would end up spanning decades. A colleague who had worked as a counselor with Court Appointed Special Advocate in Kane County, Illinois, was recounting a board meeting where the issue of children lacking beds was raised. Something about the exchange caught Sergi’s attention, prompting him to inquire further.
“I learned they had a request to fund beds for children in need. When I inquired further, I discovered these three children were sleeping on the floor as their family couldn’t afford beds.”
This reality was unacceptable to the successful insurance executive, father, and man of faith. “That made my heart ache. Back then, I had small children, and the thought of any child without a proper place to sleep was simply unacceptable,” Sergi adds. “I immediately contacted the executive director and offered to purchase the beds these children needed.”
His quick response reflected the values that had long guided his life, with his strong faith shaping his sense of responsibility toward others, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
Turning Compassion Into a Lasting Legacy
What began as a one-time gesture to help three specific children evolved into the Beds for Kids Fund, a long-term initiative that would ultimately provide over 3,600 beds and cribs to needy children. After Sergi’s initial response, word spread, and organizations began reaching out with similar needs.
Daniel A. Sergi then began exploring the potential scope of the issue. “I started wondering just how widespread this issue was, so I contacted other nonprofits that were clients in my office,” he recounts. “Each confirmed that they regularly encountered families needing beds and cribs but lacked funding for furniture. I learned that while there were funds for food and clothing, that was not the case for beds and cribs.”
Recognizing a critical gap in community support systems, Sergi developed a more comprehensive method to meet this need. “In no time, I realized that each child needed a complete setup — a twin bed frame, box spring, mattress, sheets, pillow, and blankets. These families couldn’t afford any of it. I further discovered that kids were actually sleeping on pallets, directly on the floor, or three children to a small bed.”
Working Smarter To Get Beds to Kids Faster
Daniel A. Sergi initially considered a more elaborate operation. “At first, that was the direction I wanted to take—until I realized just how much work it actually entailed, and that I didn’t have the time to commit. I had looked into renting a warehouse, buying all kinds of beds and cribs, getting a box truck, and even hiring someone to handle pickups and assembly.” he recalls. “As I started to look into it, I realized I couldn’t manage this. I needed to find another way to do this”.
So Sergi developed a more practical plan. “I decided that I’m not going to go down that route, but that doesn’t mean I can’t provide beds.”
Rather than creating an elaborate infrastructure, Daniel established a streamlined system through an existing foundation. “I formalized the process through the Community Foundation of Fox River Valley (CFFRV), and we were off to support a great cause,” he explains. “Through our website, the nonprofits would submit requests via a formalized Request Form, I would qualify the request, and through the Beds for Kids Fund managed by CFFRV, checks were approved and issued to the NFP to cover the costs of the beds and cribs.”
He adds, “Although most beds and cribs went directly to the folks who requested them, there were also beds & cribs that went to places as transitional homes and shelters”.
This approach leveraged existing nonprofit networks and volunteers. “We would issue a check to the nonprofit, and they were responsible for coordinating everything—purchasing the bed, arranging delivery, and setting it up. They had volunteers to handle it all. It was never an issue, and everything was always done promptly.”
Eventually, Beds for Kids would work with a core group of around 10 nonprofits from the Fox Valley region and up to as many as 50 nonprofits in all. At times, as many as 20 beds, sheets, pillows and blankets would be given to needy children each month.
“These were God’s children, and they needed a good night’s sleep,” Sergi recalled. “They had no bed to be tucked into. How do they feel safe? How do youngsters go to school in the morning? So many babies are born with no crib to sleep in. And as I said earlier, sometimes, two to three children were sharing a small bed, wooden pallet, or sleeping on the floor.”
No Names, No Recognition, Just Gratitude
With his wife Barbara by his side, Daniel A. Sergi was intentional about preserving the dignity of recipient families. “I never wanted to know the names of the recipients — that was confidential, and this wasn’t about recognition.” However, to assess the program’s effectiveness, the CFFRV created an “Impact Form” to welcome photos of the children with their new beds.
“We created what we called an Impact Form. The goal was to understand how Beds for Kids was performing in serving the community. We asked for feedback—what was working well, what could be improved—and requested a photo after the bed was installed. That way, we could continue refining the program and improve how we deliver these much-needed beds and cribs.” Sergi explains.
“Through the nonprofits, Beds for Kids received countless heartfelt photos and thank-you notes from the children’s mothers—hundreds over the years. All were kept confidential, with no names included, and each note simply addressed to Beds for Kids. The images and messages from these grateful parents, most often single mothers, were deeply moving. Some will stay with me forever. Many of these children received their very first bed through the program, and the joy in their smiles—whether sitting on or standing proudly beside their new bed—is truly priceless. “Sergi adds.
Growing the Mission While Keeping Kids First
What began in the Fox Valley area of Illinois eventually expanded. “The requests started to come in from different places, and I didn’t turn people down. I qualified who they were,” Daniel A. Sergi notes. “Requests started to come in from Florida, or from folks that I knew in different states like Wisconsin.”
Despite this expansion, the program maintained its primary focus. “Ninety percent of beds granted went to Fox Valley families in need,” Sergi says. Each month, on average, Beds for Kids provided approximately 10 beds, consistently meeting needs as they arose for three decades.
The program supported children across a wide age range. “It was designed for newborns all the way up to eighteen-year-olds,” he explains. “Every now and then, we’d receive requests saying, ‘The mom needs a bed’ or ‘The dad needs the bed.’ I always had to respond, ‘I’m sorry, this program is strictly for babies and children.’
Now retired to Wisconsin, the Sergi’s made the tough decision to close Beds for Kids.
“It wasn’t an easy choice,” Daniel A. Sergi admitted. “But we know it’s the right moment. It would be wonderful if someone could continue the work we started, but each person must find their own faith based passion. I don’t believe I found this cause by chance, but rather God placed me in the right place at the right time. I truly believe that God intended me to hear that conversation. I often wonder where those children are today. Some are now 30 to 40 years old. Perhaps the gift of receiving a bed is being carried on by a few of them in some way today. I’ll never know for sure, but I have faith that it is, and that warms my heart.”
Daniel also shared a tribute to his late nephew: “My nephew Nick, who was very special to me and sadly passed away at a young age of 27, used to say, ‘Giving Makes You Smile’. His faith and legacy will live on for many generations to come through the wonderful work of the Nicholas D. Sergi Foundation.”
