Embracing Lincoln’s Bountiful Opportunities for Giving

BY LINCOLN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Susan and Michael Ferris met as she approached her senior year of college, and he was ready to start medical school. Eventually they married and, like families of so many beginning physicians, lived in various cities across the country including in Michigan, California, and Wisconsin, eventually landing in Lincoln.

Thirty-one years later, they have never looked back from this decision. Michael and Susan are delighted they made Lincoln their forever home, working and raising their four children here. And thanks to their enduring trust in Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF), they have lived a life of philanthropy and giving back.

Susan shared that she and Michael believe strongly in demonstrating their pride of place.

“Deep in our hearts, we believe in paying it back and paying it forward, to support the community we love,” said Susan.

Michael agreed and is grateful that LCF has enabled them to learn so much about how best to support their adopted hometown.
“I’m not sure everyone realizes how many areas of need there are in this city,” Michael said. “But the Community Foundation helps you see the big picture, identifying where your dollars can make a difference and where your community benefits the most.”

Truly, Michael and Susan adore this city, professionally and personally. Susan currently leads a team of eight real estate agents alongside her daughter, Jenna, for RE/MAX. When working with a family, she often shows them the entire community rather than simply focusing on a specific home.
“When we get in the car, I don’t just sell them on a home. I sell them on the city, a wonderfully safe place where you know your neighbors and can get anywhere in under 20 minutes,” Susan said. “A place with fine arts, libraries, parks, and trails. Entertainment and restaurants. Wonderful public and private schools, colleges and universities. The Children’s Museum and Children’s Zoo.”

Indeed, the community has offered their family countless possibilities, including bountiful opportunities for giving. The couple remembered when they first crossed paths with LCF.
“We were contributing to a standard list of charities, approaching our year-end donations, and realized we wanted to look for something different to broaden our views,” Michael said. “What we found was a one-stop shop for giving, a place that stays abreast of all charities, and can offer new ideas.”

“Somehow friends and family came together and raised enough money to send him to a specialist in Switzerland,” Susan shared. “I can still remember that knock on the door, and seeing more people than I could count, arriving with sacks of groceries.” Her dad survived the aneurysm and left a legacy of overwhelming gratitude for charity.

“When you’re on the receiving end of beating hearts and generosity, you never forget,” she said.

Michael grew up in a family of six children who all worked together in the family business. But when Michael was in college, his youngest brother was diagnosed with leukemia and died just nine months later.
“But we will never forget when we took him to St. Jude, the loving care and generosity they extended to children and their families,” Michael said. “When you have those kinds of early experiences, you develop a love and heart for giving to others.”

St. Jude is still a central part of their giving, but it also inspired a general spirit of charity through LCF.
“If you have a philanthropic mindset but aren’t quite sure where your heart is or where you want to focus your dollars, we would tell anyone to contact the Foundation,” Michael said. “They will honor your priorities.”

These days Michael is happily retired, but they both believe it is important to continue showing their gratitude to the community where they raised their family and practiced their professions.
“People will tell you that retirement is the time to move to warmer climates, or move to where your children live,” Michael said with a smile. "We aren't moving anywhere."

"We will always come back to Lincoln. Lincoln is hard to beat. Lincoln is home."

Michael and Susan Ferris are part of LCF’s Benefactors & Legacy Society and Board of Trustees. Michael serves on the Board of Directors and the Development and Marketing Committee. To learn more about donor advised funds and other charitable giving tools, contact Chip DeBuse at 402-474-2345.