LEGACY / COMMUNITY

Channeling Love into a Family Business Legacy

Catherine Garrity-Frans

April 4, 2026

April 4 marks five years since we lost my mom.

Five years since her laughter filled a room.
Five years since she rallied people together with an energy that made everyone feel like they belonged.
Five years since the woman who shaped so much of who I am left a space in our lives that can never truly be filled.

My mom loved deeply. She showed up fully. And she had a way of turning ordinary moments into something joyful, something meaningful, something shared.

When you lose someone like that, you don’t just feel the absence – you feel a responsibility. A pull to carry forward the way they lived. The way they loved.

In business, we often focus on what we’re building: companies, careers, opportunities for the future. But sometimes the most important things we build aren’t measured in revenue or growth. They’re measured in the impact we have on the people and communities around us. Our family came to understand that in a very personal way after my mom passed away.

The seed was planted.

On our first vacation without her, we found ourselves sitting around the table, sharing stories and reflecting on the space she left behind. In that moment, my dad suggested we create a foundation – something that would allow us to continue giving back in her honor.

It felt like the right way to channel our grief into something meaningful. A way to carry forward the compassion and generosity that defined her life.

That conversation led to the creation of the Denise C. Garrity / Compass Point Foundation Fund, a donor-advised fund established in 2022 to support charitable causes recommended by our family. Choosing where to focus that support felt natural.

My mom absolutely loved the Women’s 5K Classic of the Lehigh Valley. Every year, she brought together a large team of friends and family to participate. And afterward, she would host everyone back at our house. It was joyful. It was inclusive. It was her.

Those moments weren’t just about a race. They were about community, connection, and showing up for something bigger than yourself. Continuing to support the Women’s 5K Classic through our foundation felt like a natural extension of who she was and what she cared about.

The organization provides financial assistance to women undergoing breast cancer treatment and their families help ease that burden, allowing women to focus on healing instead of financial stress. Something we’ve come to understand is critically important.

The silent crisis behind the diagnosis.

A cancer diagnosis isn’t just a health crisis. It’s often a financial one. Treatment costs add up quickly, and many patients are forced to step away from work while they fight their illness. Families are suddenly navigating emotional, physical, and financial challenges all at once.

That’s where giving, whether through a foundation or individual contributions, can make a real difference. Every act of generosity helps support someone through one of the most difficult times in their life. For our family, being part of this work has shifted our perspective in a lasting way.

It’s grounded us in a simple mindset:

I don’t have to. I get to.

I get to contribute to something bigger than myself.
I get to support families in our community.
I get to honor my mom’s legacy by continuing the work she cared so deeply about.

At Compass Point, we spend a lot of time helping family businesses think about legacy – how values are passed down, how families build something that lasts beyond one generation. Giving back can – and should – be part of that legacy.

When families rally around a shared cause, it creates purpose. It strengthens connections across generations. And it reminds us that the most meaningful foundations we build aren’t just financial or professional. They’re human.

It’s not just about giving back. It’s about staying connected. To my mom, to what she believed in, and to the way she moved through the world. She didn’t just support causes – she created community. She brought people together. She made things feel lighter, even in hard moments. That’s the legacy we’re trying to carry forward.

Five years later, I still miss her every day. But I also see her everywhere; in the people who show up, in the lives being supported, and in the moments of connection that continue because of what she started.

That’s the thing about a life lived with so much love and generosity. It doesn’t end. It expands.

And through this foundation, through this work, through every person it touches…she’s still making an impact.

We don’t have to. We GET to.

If your organization is looking for a meaningful charitable cause to support, we encourage you to consider donating to the Denise C. Garrity / Compass Point Foundation Fund. Your generosity helps us continue supporting organizations like the Women’s 5K Classic and the women and families in our community navigating breast cancer.

It is because of you that this legacy continues. And for that, our family is deeply grateful.

How to channel your love into a family business legacy.

If you and your family are considering a foundation, here are a few frequently asked questions to inform your legacy journey. Contact me at [email protected], if you have more questions. I’m happy to help.

When is the right time for a family business to start a foundation?
There’s no perfect milestone. The right time is when there’s a shared desire to turn values into action—not just when the business reaches a certain size.

Do you need to be a large or highly profitable business to create a foundation?
No. Giving back doesn’t require scale – it requires intention. Many families start small and grow their impact over time. What matters most is consistency and alignment with your values, not the size of the initial contribution.

What’s the first step to getting started?
Start with a conversation. Bring your family together to talk about what matters to you, what kind of impact you want to have, and how you’d like to show up in your community. Structure and strategy can follow – but alignment comes first.

How can a foundation strengthen a family business?
It creates shared purpose beyond the day-to-day operations of the business. Giving back can bring generations together, reinforce family values, and provide a meaningful way for next-generation leaders to get involved.

Should the next generation be involved in the foundation?
Absolutely. A foundation can be a powerful way to engage the next generation early, giving them a voice, a sense of responsibility, and a connection to the family’s values beyond the business itself.