Susan Coyle Family Fund

Valley Community Foundation (VCF) Board Member Susan Coyle has a message for anyone interested in starting a Fund at the Foundation - you can do it! Coyle has taken her own advice and has established the Susan Coyle Family Fund - a Donor Advised Fund which will support Arts in the Valley as well as the Breast Wellness Center at Griffin Hospital.

"I wanted to set an example for my grandchildren, to let them know it is important to give back to your community," said Sue. "I plan to put money into this Fund every time my grandchildren have a birthday or celebrate a special occasion. It is my legacy for them - and I hope in time they will be able to add their own money to it as well."

As co-owner of Real Estate Two in Shelton since its creation in 1985, Sue has made significant contributions to her community, both personally and professionally. Her awards and honors range from Women Making a Difference in the Valley 2011, to Women's Counsel of Realtors'Woman Realtor of theYear, to the American Cancer Society Volunteer of theYear, to the Valley Chamber of Commerce's Silver Seal and Leadership in Health awards. Sue also serves as a Director of the Shelton Economic Development Corporation and as a Corporator of both Griffin Hospital and the Valley United Way.

As a Valley businessperson, she has also benefitted from those she has worked for and with - "the Valley has been very good to me," says Sue. She knows first-hand how a little bit of funding can go a long way. As a volunteer for numerous local organizations ranging from "Valley Goes Pink" to Center Stage, she has seen small donations grow into thousands of dollars to support worthy causes.

"Just look around at what VCF is doing, and you want to be a part of it," said Sue. "This year we helped repair the vandalized Veterans' plaques, filled the food bank at St. Vincent dePaul, and helped young people find afterschool programs in Ansonia, to name just a few. After many years of doing volunteer work for a nationwide nonprofit - I opened my eyes and said, 'I want to see where my money and good deeds are going. I want to see the fruits of my labor.' Now I can do that by working with VCF."

If there is one thing Sue hopes people will take away from her creating this Fund, it is this - "You don't have to be wealthy to create a Fund. You can start small and build it up over time. The best part about working with VCF is that the money that is given here stays here in the Valley. You know where it is going and can see how it is helping those in need. I'm a big fan of paying it forward - of giving now and knowing it can help others in the future. VCF provides an excellent opportunity to do just that."