A quote by essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, "the purpose of life...is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived..." best reflects the values of Mary and Dr. Keith Madison. The couple has spent decades, both together and individually, helping others. They attribute this community-minded spirit to the rich traditions of their culture, where they learned how to live a life of service.
Mary grew up in the church, and it transformed her passions – a deep love for working with women and children. She became a licensed professional counselor, ordained minister and served as a school counselor and teacher for many years during her career. She is uniquely empathetic to the needs of others, and this skillset brought her to serve in the Iowa State House of Representatives, where she is in a second term – a labor of love for the people of our state.
"Everything you contribute is a step towards fulfillment," says Mary. "Value what you bring to the table, use your power and voice to do something to inspire an individual to know their dreams are possible and make space for other people as they work to achieve their goals. Continue to be better together."
Looking for opportunities to help is also deep-rooted for Keith. He comes from a long line of community servants, dating back to 1700, who have empowered others and worked to do good in the community. Keith, a retired physician, has followed suit by providing care for his patients, serving as a trained volunteer for the Red Cross and providing driving lessons for immigrants and refugees as they seek employment, education and citizenship in their new home.
When the couple transplanted to Des Moines in 1999, they had the opportunity to meet Monroe Colston, the first president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. Monroe provided a welcome to the community and further educated them about how they could give, in addition to their gifts of time and talent.
"We gravitated towards the better together philosophy of the Community Foundation," shared Mary. "We realized they had the mechanics to invest the money, help meet the needs of local organizations and allow us to contribute with ease in areas that are important to us."
The couple realized they wanted a flexible tool, that not only organized their giving, but allowed them to give back whenever they chose. The Madisons established a donor advised fund more than 20 years ago and have since been active in giving to the community and causes close to their hearts.
"People of good conscience help," says Keith. "It takes the desire to see the possibilities in the hopes and dreams of others. Once you believe with people and contribute where you can, your investment pays off. Those dreams become reality for those you have helped, they remember and will pay it forward by helping others. The structure of the Community Foundation has quite simply helped us maximize caring for our neighbors and live a life that makes us all better together."