At SouthCol, we are driven to help clients pursue their mission. Here is a client story that inspires us. We hope it inspires you.
Embracing Giving as a Lifestyle
At 97 years of age, Lyn Ridgeway is living proof that generosity is not only a gift to others – it’s a source of fulfillment for the giver. A retired secretary and lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, Lyn has made giving a way of life. Her story is a powerful reminder of what it means to live with intention, purpose, and joy.
Lyn was born and raised in the small town of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. In 1957, Lyn was ready for a new challenge and made a courageous move to Chicago – a place more than 200 times larger by population. Amid the towering buildings and busy streets, Lyn found a spiritual home at the historic First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, where she has remained an active member for more than six decades. Today, she believes she may be the longest-living member of the Temple – a distinction she carries with humility and pride.
Words of Wisdom
Lyn enjoyed a long and successful career as a secretary at the University of Illinois Medical Center. In 1970s Chicago, Lyn found herself in a room with Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman. He was speaking to a group of about 50 individuals, convened by the “Cost Committee” – a group Lyn helped form to advocate for fair taxation for singles and heads of households.
Sensing a rare opportunity, Lyn asked Friedman, “What should I do with the money I have left after living expenses?” His response was simple, yet profound: “Spend it on what makes you happy!”
“Those seven words transformed my life,” Lyn recalled. In that moment, she realized something she had always known – giving makes her happy.
The Spirit of Joyful Giving
That principle has guided Lyn ever since. It has shaped her relationship with Midwest Methodist Foundation, where she is a generous benefactor. One of her early contributions supported the “We Care” fund through the Chicago Temple, which aids homebound church members with essential and discretionary needs. Lyn has also partnered with the Foundation to create her own endowment fund supporting initiatives focused on education and expanding access to learning around the world.
“Lyn embodies the spirit of joyful giving,” says Chris Walters, President and CEO of Midwest Methodist Foundation. “Her generosity flows from a deeply personal place – and that’s what makes it so inspiring. Her life is a testament to how giving can become a lifestyle.”
Nearly half a century after that encounter with Milton Friedman, Lyn continues to live by his advice. Her giving has supported endowments that will impact lives for decades to come. And through it all, her happiness has never been in doubt.
Source: midwestmethodist.org