Tom and Jane Brown have deep roots in Waterloo and were looking for a way to give back to the community in their retirement years. Tom spent 42 years at Standard Gold Company, and Jane taught math in Waterloo Schools for over 30 years. They are also active volunteers – Jane is co-president of Black Hawk Retired School Personnel Association and Tom serves on various local committees.
The Waterloo Community Foundation introduced them to Donor Advised Funds as a way to support the city both now and in the future.
Setting up the fund was easy but deciding where to focus their giving was more difficult.“There’s just so much out there, we don’t want to pick just one area. There are so many needs that you’d like to give some to everybody,” said Tom.
They opted for a broad approach, aiming to support the general betterment of Waterloo with gifts to various organizations.“We might decide someday to focus the fund, but in the meantime, it’s our goal just getting it fully funded and established.”
Tom and Jane enjoy doing hands-on work in their community and frequently attend different theatres and concerts. Tom says, “We like to keep our finger on the pulse of what is going on.”
They also enjoy spending time with their 3 young grandchildren. Jane says, “We want to watch our grandchildren with whatever they’re involved in at school and we wouldn’t want to miss that kind of thing.”
A Donor Advised Fund offers Tom and Jane a meaningful way to leave a lasting impact for future generations and support organizations that reflect their values.
Learn more about Donor Advised Funds at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/fund-types/#Donor-Advised-Fund
