Running Ahead: Dan and Susan Morrissey Plan to Establish a Legacy of giving

Dan and Susan Morrissey are gearing up for more than their next marathon race, they’re also in the process of shaping a future defined by philanthropy. Since retirement, they’ve been raising funds for charities while running marathons worldwide, most recently the Tokyo Marathon in Japan.

“It’s fulfilling to be part of a team,” said Dan. “I’m doing what I love—traveling, running races, and raising money to help charities.”

Closer to home, Dan and Susan recently established the Morrissey Legacy Family Trust with the Community Foundation so they can continue to support causes after they are gone. They became interested in the Community Foundation when Dan read about CFAAC’s Special Offer for Nonprofit Endowment Funds. Dan, a board member of the South Shore Recovery Club, saw the offer as crucial to sustain the organization’s mission in perpetuity.

“I got the ball rolling with the South Shore Recovery Fund and when I started to understand more about the Community Foundation, I wanted to be involved,” said Dan, who with Susan, attended the Celebration of Philanthropy Luncheon. They were immediately impressed with the awardees and their accomplishments. “We came away thinking, ‘we ought to do something like that,’” said Dan and soon after, they contacted CFAAC about establishing a fund.

Despite humble beginnings, with Dan growing up in Chicago and Susan in Ellicott City, both were raised with a strong work ethic that guided their successful careers—Susan as a RN with Mercy Medical Center for 35 years, and Dan in the auto parts distribution business for 41 years. “We have been so fortunate in our lives so we want to help people have the same opportunities that we had,” said Dan.  

The Morrisseys aim to both aid those less fortunate and instill a charitable philosophy in their three adult children. “We feel it’s imperative to demonstrate the importance of giving through our actions,” said Dan.

They are considering endowing their fund to ensure their giving continues in perpetuity. “Even after we and our children are gone, we like the idea that there will still be an impact from our legacy,” said Susan, who with Dan, is impressed with the professionalism and services provided by the Community Foundation.

“I can confidently give money and know that it’s going to be handled the right way,” said Dan. “I truly believe that by giving back, we are going to end up sleeping better at night and feeling more fulfilled in general. I’m a big believer in what comes around, goes around, and when you help others, good things happen.”

Dan and Susan said they hope people appreciate their opportunities in the U.S. and recognize that not everyone in the world gets the same opportunities. Dan added: “We hope that we can inspire other people to reach out to CFAAC and figure out how they can make an impact in the world. I learned a long time ago is that money in the bank doesn’t buy happiness, but giving back does.”