Upon meeting Judy, one can’t help but feel the warmth of her personality. She lights up when she talks about giving back, and we’re grateful she let us share her story here.
Judy and her husband John both grew up in Lansing, where they first met in high school. John was in the Marines when they were married and upon his return from Vietnam, the couple returned to their roots in Lansing. There, they worked in the computer field for the State of Michigan until their retirement in 1997.
In 2008, they decided to move to West Michigan to be closer to Judy’s mother. They chose Holland and Freedom Village to be their new home, and St. Francis de Sales their church. They settled right in to the community and found new ways to share their generosity.
Why Give?
“We always felt very fortunate. When we lived and worked in Lansing, we could see the problems around us. We could see the homelessness on our way to work. We wanted to help, so we supported local organizations in addition to our church. John was a very giving person, and we didn’t have any children. We’ve been blessed to be able to give.”
Why the Community Foundation?
“We first heard of the Community Foundation through Freedom Village. We kept hearing a lot about it, and we found it to be a convenient and easy way to donate. We chose to set up the John and Judy Gaydos Fund as an unrestricted fund. The Foundation knows the community’s needs and this fund allows our resources to go where they’ve determined to be most impactful.”
Another benefit Judy found in having a named fund was that John’s memory lives on forever. John passed in the summer of 2011, but his name, good heart, and legacy of giving will always be a part of this community through the John and Judy Gaydos Fund. “It’s very important to me that his name lives on as a legacy.”
“I just feel compelled to do something more. I want to be out there in the world with people, making a difference.”
– Judy Gaydos
John and Judy: Bridge Builders
“John and I together decided to include a gift to the Community Foundation as part of our trust, our estate plan. We felt confident that the Foundation has the experience to know what is really needed in this community, now and in the future.”
The Judy Gaydos Advised Fund
Judy is passionate about community. Her faith is important and she enjoys volunteering.
She supports efforts that combat homelessness, inspire peace, and benefit youth. She also would love to see more neighborhood revitalization take place in Holland.
Judy recently established the Judy Gaydos Advised Fund, a Donor Advised Fund, to complement her unrestricted fund and planned estate gift.
“I wanted to donate additional resources but be more involved in the process of choosing organizations, while still having the expertise and advice of the Community Foundation. The Foundation helps us donors make the most of our giving.”
More than 100 individuals and couples have joined Judy to make a commitment to support the future of the Holland/Zeeland area through an estate gift to the Community Foundation. These generous individuals are recognized through the Foundation’s Bridge Builder Society.
