Welcome, please tell us about the recently announced endowment Fund, Raquel?

Laurie, what will this mean for the Community Foundation?

Raquel, does this change any of the efforts that have been underway through the Izzo Legacy over the past 5 years?

While you're giving back to the community, how can the business community synergize and support this?

Will the Community Foundation be operating it, bringing more staff on board to manage the efforts? what's next?

The pair answered a few more questions for us, off-camera.

What about the COVID recovery how has that come along?

There were the consistent top 3 concerns, remind us of those, and IS there something else on the rise that the Michigan business community should be watching out for? The Izzo Legacy is proud to announce the establishment of its endowment fund at the Capital Region Community Foundation to further its commitment to the community. Lupe Izzo and Raquel Izzo McDonald are establishing the Izzo Legacy Endowment Fund at the Capital Region Community Foundation. Raquel is the Executive Director of the Izzo Legacy.

The Community Foundation serves donors to meet their unique charitable goals, supports area nonprofits, and leads innovative projects that drive community growth.


Raquel, you serve as the executive director of the Izzo Legacy. Please tell us about the Izzo Legacy?

In 2019, Lupe and Raquel Izzo created the Izzo 5K Run/Walk/Roll event to unify the community and to establish a sustainable annual event that would give back to the Greater Lansing and Michigan State communities. The Izzo 5K Run/Walk/Roll has become the largest 5K event in mid-Michigan, with almost 5,000 participants in 2023!
In 2020, the Izzo Legacy non-profit corporation was established to ensure that the Izzo family’s commitment to charitable giving would grow and continue throughout the greater Lansing community.

“Starting the Izzo Legacy with my family has been a dream come true. Since 2019, with the support of our sponsors, donors, and valued volunteers, we’ve raised over $450,000 for our charity partners. “We are proud to establish the Izzo Legacy Endowment Fund at the Capital Region Community Foundation,”

Laurie, what does this mean to the Community Foundation?

They want to make an impact today and always forever, not just during their lifetime, and I think that speaks volumes,” Baumer said of the Izzo family. “I think it also sets a wonderful example to the rest of us in the community to think beyond our lifetime.

I feel honored on behalf of our foundation that the family trusts the Community Foundation. They know that we will always protect their fund so that it lasts forever.

Laurie, tells us about the Community Foundation?

The Community Foundation maintains over 530 funds that they invest in the market for growth over time. Portions of these earnings are reinvested and other portions are given to the community through grants to nonprofits.

Last year, the Community Foundation received nearly $7 million in donations to new or existing funds and awarded $5.5 million in grants to local organizations. The Izzo family and foundations no longer have ownership over the money they’ve donated but would be able to direct the funding toward their own charitable priorities.

Raquel, tell me why the Izzo Legacy decided to invest in the Community Foundation:

The Izzo Legacy Endowment will ensure that my parents’ commitment to charitable giving will last forever.  Partnering with the Community Foundation was an easy choice because of its strong connection to the communities and charities we support.

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And here was the initial press release about the announcement:

The Izzo Legacy Establishes Endowment at the Community Foundation to further its Commitment to Community 

East Lansing, MI – The Izzo Legacy is proud to announce the establishment of its endowment fund at the Capital Region Community Foundation.

In 2019, Lupe and Raquel Izzo created the Izzo 5K Run/Walk/Roll event to unify the community and to establish a sustainable annual event that would give back to the Greater Lansing and Michigan State communities. The Izzo 5K Run/Walk/Roll has become the largest 5K event in mid-Michigan, with almost 5,000 participants in 2023!

In 2020, the Izzo Legacy non-profit corporation was established to ensure that the Izzo family’s commitment to charitable giving would grow and continue throughout the greater Lansing community.

“Tom and I feel it’s important to give back to our community that has given us so much over the years,” said Lupe Izzo, founder of the Izzo Legacy. “Starting the Izzo Legacy with my family has been a dream come true. Since 2019, with the support of our sponsors, donors, and valued volunteers, we’ve raised over $450,000 for our charity partners.” 

“We are proud to establish the Izzo Legacy Endowment Fund at the Capital Region Community Foundation,” said Raquel Izzo McDonald, Executive Director of the Izzo Legacy. “The Izzo Legacy Endowment will ensure that my parents’ commitment to charitable giving will last forever.  Partnering with the Community Foundation was an easy choice because of its strong connection to the communities and charities we support.”

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About The Izzo Legacy
Tom and Lupe Izzo created the Izzo Legacy Family Fund to formalize their commitment to the community they have called home and raised their family. It is meant to bring together people in the community through charitable endeavors for the common purpose of helping others.

For more information about the Izzo Legacy, go to IzzoLegacy.com or contact the Izzo Legacy here.

About The Izzo Legacy 5K Run/Walk/Roll
For more information about the Izzo 5K Run/Walk/Roll, go to IzzoRace.com or contact Race Director Joe Dimambro at joe@playmakersfoundation.org

About The Capital Region Community Foundation
The Community Foundation serves donors to meet their unique charitable goals, supports area nonprofits, and leads innovative projects that drive community growth.  The Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity whose mission is to lead philanthropic solutions that build vibrant communities in Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties.  For more information about the Community Foundation, go to ourcommunity.org or contact Vice President Marcy Gillespie Kinzer at Mkinzer@ourcommunity.org

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