“I learned so much from Community Foundation staff about the sector and how to manage a fund… They really challenged me in positive ways, and I took it all very seriously and put into action what I learned.”
Nearly five years ago, Aaron Matthew Tuneberg died at age 30 as the result of a violent assault. Immediately, his family established a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) in his name to make a difference in the lives of other at-risk people with disabilities.
“One week passed between the crime and taking him off life support,” recalls Gale Boonstra, Aaron’s mother. “As that week went on and it looked like we wouldn’t have a miracle, we wanted to do something to counter that awful, senseless situation.
“We’re Jewish, and it’s not in our tradition to have a lot of flowers at funerals. So we did the fund right away, so it could be included in Aaron’s obituary and be on people’s minds rather than bringing flowers.
“My intention, which I’ve held to, was to do something that would help people like Aaron have a more meaningful life.” Indeed, per the fund’s website, the purpose of the memorial fund is to “honor Aaron’s spirit and soul, and in the process to make the lives of other adults with disabilities more meaningful and safer.”
For example, Aaron’s Fund has supported a program that provides bicycles – which were Aaron’s passion – to young adults with disabilities, and trains them as bicycle mechanics to help them land jobs at local bike shops. Another focus of the fund has been the three-year Tuneberg Residential Safety Technology Project, supporting technologies – e.g., visual doorbells and sensors that can detect when a stove has been left on – that help people with disabilities live independently.
“About 50 people have gone through the Earn a Bike Program, and it’s continuing to succeed,” says Gale, also noting collaboration with Boulder B-Cycle and foundation grantee Community Cycles. Additionally, the program is a vendor with the Colorado State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. “I’m 70 now, and I won’t be able to do this forever. But I really want to grow this program, which is doing particularly well given the current climate we’re in.”
Coming soon, the fund will launch a new program in partnership with Goally: a digital therapeutics startup that offers software-driven behavior therapy for the one in seven children across the country who live with cognitive challenges like ADHD and autism.
“Goally provides tools that help families develop skills and independence in these children,” explains Gale. “Aaron would have benefitted from Goally, and we want to use Aaron’s Fund to bring Goally’s tools to families who would otherwise not be able to afford them.”
Truly a community changemaker, Gale – armed with three master’s degrees and professional experience that ranges from CFO to senior mortgage consultant – was proactive in her approach to learning the ins and outs of the nonprofit world.
“Except for making donations, I knew nothing about nonprofits,” she says. “I learned so much from Community Foundation staff about the sector and how to manage a fund – from creating a database and a website to writing to donors. They really challenged me in positive ways, and I took it all very seriously and put into action what I learned.”
She adds, “I would encourage everyone to be involved with the foundation, and DAFs are amazing giving vehicles – but there are other ways to give, too. What matters is being part of the community. You meet the most amazing people.
“Getting involved with the Community Foundation is like a warm embrace. To be in the same room in the company of people who care as much as I do about the work that goes on there is really special. Anytime I go to an event, I leave feeling so good about my community.”
Concludes Gale, herself a model of resiliency, “There are good things happening at the local level. If people can find something they’re passionate about – and give of their time, money, and political actions – the world would be a much kinder place.”
