Agnes Trill

• General Notes
  • PHILANTHROPIST AGNES TRILL FUNK
    Donates $1 Million to Fight Parkinson's Disease
    at the Cure for Sure Fundraiser
    
     
    
     
    
     
    
    Story and cover photo by Monique Attar
    Story Photo by Christine Conniff Sheahan
    
    
    From the moment you meet Agnes Trill Funk, you know she is an amazing woman deterred by nothing. Her hazel eyes twinkle as her smile reels you into speaking with a woman who has always been able to stand strong. Agnes, who has donated $1 million dollars to Msgr. Thomas Hartman's Foundation for Parkinson's Research, is like a rose. As the bud begins to open, each petal is as beautiful as the next. When one hears what wonderful philanthropic acts Agnes Trill Funk and her late husband John have performed, each charitable act is equally remarkable.
    The $1 million dollar contribution during the June "Cure for Sure" dinner for the Hartman Foundation, with the Michael J. Fox Foundation expected to match the donation, will help make giant strides in funding research. Msgr. Thomas Hartman said, "Agnes Funk is one of the most generous and caring people on Long Island. She, along with her husband, John, had been surprising needy organizations on Long Island with their donations. Now that John is in heaven, Agnes continues his legacy with a keen eye to the needs of the most creative and altruistic organizations on Long Island. When Agnes heard that research money could be spent on the causes and the curing of Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease and dystonia, she wanted to be a part of history. She wanted to remind Long Island that we can take care of our sick. She looked around her home and saw that a face lift of the home wasn't as necessary as finding a cure for these diseases. Agnes, you are, in the words of Rabbi Gellman, Ôa mensch.'"
    
    The Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson's Research seeks to provide grants for the newest and most innovative scientific projects, which offer the best hope for the advancement and development of a cure. Medical technology can only advance with the generous support of philanthropic people like Agnes Trill Funk. Without that funding, more people Ñ adults as well as children Ñ are at risk each day, while the technology to cure and prevent certain illnesses is on the horizon.
    
    Until recently, Agnes' days of philanthropic work have been a shared passion with John Funk, her late husband. Together they worked at the Catholic Club at St. Matthias in Ridgewood, Queens, and the National Center for Disability Services and ran the annual barbecue for Schneider Children's Hospital. At the Long Island Philharmonic, both served as non-paid guest conductors. They distributed flyers, collated mailings, staffed the gift shop and coordinated Christmas parties. For 20 years, John assisted Meals on Wheels through St. Francis Hospital, a task allowing this "soft spoken" man to interact with shut-ins and often helped people with household chores and errands. Agnes and John opened their hearts to children in need and their support benefited St. Mary's Children & Family Services in Syosset and St. Christopher-Ottilie. Through the Gift of Life donor program, the Funks personally sponsored 12 children from developing countries for heart surgery and were presented the Angel Award for this exemplary contribution. Agnes and John were honored at the November 2003 Philanthropy Day luncheon, sponsored by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals L.I. They were presented with the Outstanding Philanthropist award. Agnes continues to work with organizations for which the Funks volunteered both hours and funds.
    
    At a young age, Agnes was ready and willing to take a chance. Having taken the advice from her sister many years ago to "establish credit," Agnes has been able to provide for herself and her family through the years. A $500,000 loan to make a successful stock investment is just one example of how original thought and trust in her own convictions have propelled Agnes from the depths of the Great Depression to the 21st century.
    
    Says Agnes, "Women aren't given enough credit. I feel that if I can do it many other women can be encouraged to do it. I have been asked for advice by many women, and I give it. No one has ever been hurt by it." Some advice she shared was "get a good lawyer" and "don't put all your eggs in one basket."
    What has worked for Agnes in her rise to financial independence may not be the answer for everyone. But for her, through hard work, savvy investments in companies such as Snapple, and real estate dealings, Agnes found that her take on life has worked. It is not to say that there have only been gains, but with each gain there is the opportunity to take risks and even losses. Over a period of years, Agnes has taken each opportunity and has chosen to be a participant, share her wealth and not squander what she has been so fortunate to receive. "God has provided," she affirmed.
    
    Agnes would often respond to John's concerns regarding investments saying, "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it." Agnes always did and still continues to make decisions that work. Deeply devoted to her church, Agnes believes that the million dollar donation to the Hartman Foundation is an investment in the future of medical advances for the search for a cure; the cure for Msgr. Hartman and the Pope. The money for this donation has been borrowed against her assets. In life she has found that when "I give $5 with the right hand, I get $10 back with the left and so the next time I give $10 with the right hand. No good goes unrewarded," Agnes notes in an interview with Networking magazine, "Doing for others gives you a very good feeling inside. I'm here to make a difference."
    
    For over 25 years Agnes worked for Woolworth's in the buying office and as a sales person for a home improvement company, all the while living in a six-family home, working as the maintenance person for that house in an effort to save money. Resourceful and ambitious, Agnes saved her money, valued what she had, and was a "great shopper." She showed that anyone could dress like the movie stars and she thought, "that was the way to go" for her. A typical outfit was everything matching, from the hat down to her shoes. Agnes fondly remembers how the children in the neighborhood would call her "Miss Hollywood."
    
    St. John The Baptist Church, just opposite Madison Square Garden, is where Agnes met and married John Funk, the man of her dreams. She lovingly describes John Funk, the man she was married to for over 35 years and whom she misses terribly since his September 2003 death. Agnes had joined the local drama society and was cast as John's wife in a production. They began working together at various church events setting up the hall for parties and what brought her closer to John was how she "observed the fact that he was a gentleman and I was interested in that. I was interested in a person who could be so kind and so sweet." A courtship ensued and within two years the couple proudly walked down the aisle in 1968. Since Agnes had never been married and John was a widower, she wanted everything that everyone else had for her wedding. She didn't like the way she looked in white and so pink was the theme. The wedding was different Ñ adorable Ñ with everyone adorned in pink. John sold his home, divided the proceeds of the sale among his four children and moved in with Agnes. John worked for the United Parcel Service in the national office for over 37 years.
    
    Agnes and John continued their work in amateur theater in the capacity of acting or producing. Agnes took on the challenges that were involved and the dedication that theatre work required. Entertaining, fundraising, working for the Children's Medical Fund as trustees and helping the neighborhood children soon enveloped and filled their lives with philanthropic work.
    
    "We were always doing things together. We traveled together and I did everything, because he let me. He supported me and he knew I could do anything. From the packing, to the planning, to the buying" she chuckles. "We were inseparable."
    
    In time, Agnes took on leadership roles in many organizations. "I wasn't afraid to give ideas or take chances."
    
    The one thing she enjoys and often boasts about is her wig collection. Soon after she was married her husband had dropped her off at the hair salon for a permanent. When she came out of the salon he said, "I thought you were going to get a permanent." She told him she had. John simply said, "Stick with the wigs." Having very fine hair that did not allow for up-dos or the likes, the wig collection of over 100 to choose from saves time when preparing to go out. In addition to the time, money is saved in not having to go to the hair salon. Agnes jokes that when she plans on attending an event friends lovingly ask her, "What color hair should I look for?" The style and color of the wig often denotes how she feels. It is a fun and whimsical way of empowerment over one's image.
    
    Though years have passed, things are not all that different. Agnes is still engaged in fund raising. As she reflects, she enjoys meeting new people and working with the organizations. Agnes doesn't just write a check; she sells the raffle tickets, dinner tickets, and carries the organization's mission to everyone she encounters. Getting the respect of the organization in which she chooses to participate is vital. Not only for the organization to respect her as a donor, but the volunteers of the organizations should be equally respected. As Agnes states, "Without the help of the volunteers, there is no organization."
    
    Agnes relates that her philanthropic work is a pleasure. Her business card, Agnes Trill Funk, "Fun Raiser," clearly depicts her enjoyment in what she devotes most of her time and money. Agnes and John would volunteer and help organizations and the people who run them by selling $8-$10k worth of raffles in one hour. They loved being a part of it.
    
    "The friends you choose to share time in your life are very important," Agnes confesses. Her philanthropic work is not the only thing that she enjoys. Aside from the wonderful children she has been blessed in helping and spending time with, Agnes is taking voice lessons. Laughing and talking with friends and family has helped a great deal in evaluating priorities. Although distant in miles, Agnes enjoys conversations with her sister Evelyn Scheri in Arizona and her brother Raymond Trill in California.
    
    The "prevent and teach philosophy" along with rules of the house, respect for books and love are what Agnes believes to be some of the secrets to instilling good values in the home. "I give a lot of love," she adds. "Love most of all is what everyone deserves" she reiterates. The children that have lived and visited in her home, godson Elias, 17, his brother Henry, 18, her goddaughter, Nicole, seven, who calls her "G
    randma," and other children have always been an unbelievable blessing.
    The only board Agnes sits on today is the Don Monti Foundation. After having had an older sister die from breast cancer at the age of 38, Agnes believes that it is necessary to support and stimulate cancer research. She anguishes over how slowly cancer research seems to be progressing and that perhaps more collaboration regarding what is already known needs to be conducted.
    
    Agnes willingly donated this money to the Hartman Foundation because her dear friend, Msgr. Thomas Hartman is afflicted with Parkinson's disease. She cannot take a tax write-off for this amount.
    
    Agnes says, "I donated a million dollars. I borrowed the money. I cannot take off the interest or deduct the money because of the giving laws. If the government would change those laws you'd have more people giving. Tax laws only allow individuals to give up to a certain amount based on earned income. It should be whatever you have to donate. We should encourage people to give. The government cannot give everything and so they're cutting back. If they want the people to help fill the gaps they've got to make things more interesting for people. Why should you have to form a foundation to give away money? Sometimes it takes one person like myself to make a difference. It's my money; I should be able to do what I want."
    It only takes money.