From Personal Experience to Powerful Advocacy: Donor Sarah Treem Reflects on Her Support for the Buhai Center
Sarah Treem (44), an acclaimed television writer, producer, and playwright, is best known as the co-creator and showrunner of the Golden Globe-winning drama The Affair. However, some of her most impactful work extends beyond entertainment. Treem is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, equity, and justice in the family law system, particularly for mothers in crisis.
Having personally navigated the family court system, Treem understands the emotional and practical challenges faced by women and others involved in family law cases. As a devoted donor to the Buhai Center, her firsthand experience allows her to empathize deeply with our clients and the struggles they face in the legal system. “Not feeling like you can protect your own children is one of the most devastating experiences,” she reflects.
Recognizing the advantages of her own resources, education, and career in navigating her case, Treem reflects, “I had resources, you know, and an education, spoke English, and still it was a pretty devastating process. And I was thinking about how difficult it was for me, and then what it must be like for people who don’t have the privileges that I have.” Her conviction is clear: “[no] mother should be in the position of not being able to protect their kids because they can’t afford a lawyer.”
A pivotal moment in her understanding of the disparities some face in the family court system came when she witnessed a woman, self-represented and without English proficiency, emotionally distraught during custody proceedings. “I was just devastated for this woman,” Treem recalls. “She seemed very afraid of her ex-husband, didn’t understand what the process was, and very much needed a lawyer. She felt like her children were in danger.” The woman was “crying in the aisle, asking the judge to talk to her,” but there was no one to guide her through the system. This experience spurred Treem to find and support the Buhai Center, which provides essential resources to people in similar situations.
Treem’s continued support is also founded on her belief that safety, shelter, and love are fundamental needs for every person, and the Buhai Center plays a critical role in ensuring families and children can access them. “Children who are afraid, neglected, or growing up in chaotic environments can’t experience the stability they need to thrive,” she says. By breaking down legal barriers and providing essential support, the Buhai Center helps create the safe, stable homes that are key to children’s emotional development and the future of a healthy society. “Helping children feel safe at home is something that pays dividends in the future,” she concludes, urging others to support the Buhai Center’s vital work.
Reflecting on the family court system, Treem offers a candid perspective on the often-hidden struggles people face. “[family law court] is radically different than anything you thought you knew about [the justice system] … it can go on for years. It can bankrupt people,” she explains. “Once people are through these experiences, it’s just such a dark chapter of their lives that they don’t want to go back there.” Her insights shed light on the deep emotional and financial toll the system imposes on the people who have to navigate it, especially low-income individuals, and why organizations like the Buhai Center play such an important role in shedding light on these issues.