Scott and Carol Toppin grew up with good role models. Carol, a farm kid, grew up in a small town with neighbors helping neighbors. Scott’s mom was always the person people called first to be there when they needed someone. So, it was no surprise that together, the couple looked at how to give back to the community.

When Scott passed away from brain cancer at the age of 61, Carol wanted to do something special to remember him and use the couple’s finances to help others, just as Scott had done during his lifetime. Carol looked to the family’s long-time financial advisor, Jay Bullerman, with Financial Resource Advisors in Waterloo. He suggested a meeting with the Community Foundation. After meeting with Kaye Englin, CFNEIA president and CEO, Carol was inspired to create the Scott A. and Carol J. Toppin Family Fund with the full support of the couple’s three sons.

According to Carol, the fund helped ground her when she needed it most and has provided so many additional benefits to the family.

“It’s a great way to manage my charitable giving in a way that will continue forever. It’s just very easy to do it. I love touching people’s lives the way it does,” said Carol. “I feel like I’m the one that has benefited from it more than anyone else.”

The fund continues to keep Scott close and helps the family remember how he touched people’s lives. It also extends Scott’s legacy of giving back by teaching his children and grandchildren about charitable giving and provides a way to continue to give in ways Scott would be proud of that make his community stronger.