For agent Cindi Fox, CLF, LUTCF, President Council, Fox Valley, WI Office, charitable giving isn’t just about hosting a few fundraising events throughout the year. It’s a lifelong passion.

On her birthday two years ago, Fox had lots to celebrate – she hit the big 6-0 and accomplished her long-held fundraising target of $1 million for charity.

Fox has been committed to community service for some 30 years. In 1994, she created a personal challenge to reach a $1 million fundraising milestone prior to her 60^th birthday, a goal she continued to strive for since joining New York Life in October 2004.

“As New York Life agents, we have the power to make a significant difference in our communities: by providing trusted financial guidance to clients and leveraging numerous philanthropic programs offered by the New York Life Foundation,” Fox says.

To maximize the fundraising levels, Fox tapped into every company resource, including New York Life’s Community Impact Grant (CIG). Additionally, she also contributed hours of individual outreach through the New York Life Foundation’s Community Volunteers for Good program, hosting several large charity golf events and accessing team grants to create memory boxes and candles for the Center for Grieving Children and by working with the Children’s Hospital to provide thousands of children’s masks.

Corporate grant money

By the summer of 2021, with her birthday soon approaching, Fox believed reaching her goal were unlikely.

A $25,000 corporate grant from the New York Life Foundation pushed her fundraising total over $1 million.

“Cindy is inspiring when you think about what she's accomplished,” says Chris Torola, Development Manager, Milwaukee Office. He adds, “I've increased my volunteering and grant writing. Had I not seen her do it, I wouldn’t have realized it was possible and how easy the company makes it.” Torola recently secured his first CIG of $15,000 for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee. The grant will go towards mentoring youth.

Fox distributed the funds to three organizations: Wisconsin Leukemia Society where she established a local chapter after her mother-in-law died of leukemia; Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee where a fellow colleague, Nick Zerillo, had his daughter admitted for medical issues requiring numerous hospitalizations, and the Center for Grieving Children where the money helped the Appleton Boys & Girls Club create programming that became the blueprint to support clubs nationwide.

Unfortunately, things took a personal turn in 2017 when Fox’s six-month-old granddaughter needed open heart surgery. “Since I had forged so many strong relationships due to my fundraising activities, I knew many of the medical professionals at the Children’s Hospital who were involved in my granddaughter’s case,” says Fox. “Thankfully, everything went well, And I’m so grateful to the doctors and nurses who supported and comforted our family during this stressful experience,” she states.

Fox’s dedication is infectious

“It’s inspiring that Cindi not only does all of this outreach herself, but she also encourages others to become involved,” says Torola. “Cindi shares her knowledge with our GO’s agents and employees about the ways they can get involved and give back,” he adds.

Fox’s advice for agents who want to get involved: “Take advantage of all of the New York Life programs and work with the charities throughout the application process, so you’re  on the same page.”

Even after years of volunteering, serving on boards, and overseeing grant requests, Fox has no plans of slowing down. Though she hasn’t yet set a new fundraising goal, she knows one thing for sure, she will “still be doing it."