For nearly 60 years, Syracuse has been home to Laurence “Larry” Hoefler.
Larry arrived in Central New York in 1966 to attend Le Moyne College. What began as a move from Rochester for his undergraduate education became a lifelong connection to the community he would eventually call home.
“It’s been home,” Larry said. “It’s where my social connections are.”
After graduating from Le Moyne in 1970, Larry earned a master’s degree in special education from Syracuse University, focusing on students with emotional disabilities. He began his career at Elmcrest Children’s Center before spending decades as an educator in local public schools, including the Syracuse City School District and Cicero-North Syracuse High School. He retired in 2008.
Throughout his life, Larry found ways to invest in the community around him. He volunteered with local organizations, served on nonprofit boards, became president of the Friends of the Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, and shared his love of the arts as a docent at the Everson Museum of Art.
His commitment to giving back was shaped by family, faith and education.
Growing up, he watched his parents volunteer their time through church activities and community organizations. Later, his experiences at Le Moyne reinforced the importance of service and civic engagement.
“I’ve always been of a mind that if you’ve got some money, it’s important to give back,” Larry said. “If you want good things in your community, you’ve got to support it.”
That philosophy eventually led him to the Community Foundation.
Like many donors, Larry knew he wanted to make a difference but wasn’t sure how to create the kind of lasting impact he envisioned. Through conversations with the Community Foundation, he found a way to ensure his generosity would continue serving Central New York long after his lifetime.
He explained what appealed to him most was our ability to identify and respond to changing community needs.
“There’s so much need in Syracuse,” Larry said. “The Community Foundation has its eye on the challenges and opportunities that an individual person might not see.”
Through his estate plans, Larry will establish two legacy funds: the Laurence A. Hoefler Community Fund and the Laurence A. Hoefler Fund.
Twenty percent of his legacy gift will support the Laurence A. Hoefler Community Fund, creating a permanent resource that strengthens the Community Foundation’s ability to respond to the region’s most pressing challenges and opportunities for generations to come. By entrusting those funds to our stewardship, Larry is helping ensure future community leaders have the flexibility to address needs that may not yet exist today.
The remaining portion of the gift will establish the Laurence A. Hoefler Fund, a donor-advised fund that will be advised by Larry’s nephew. Larry hopes the fund will serve as a philanthropic resource for his family while encouraging a tradition of thoughtful charitable giving that can continue into the future.
Together, the two funds reflect Larry’s belief that philanthropy should balance both trust and personal connection. One fund will provide flexible support wherever community needs are greatest. The other will empower future generations of his family to continue making a difference.
For Larry, the decision to create these funds is rooted in gratitude.
Syracuse gave him a career, friendships, opportunities to serve and a sense of belonging. Through his legacy gift, he hopes to give something meaningful back to the community that has given him so much.
“The principal sustains itself,” Larry said when reflecting on permanent charitable funds. “Combined with other people’s support, it keeps doing something that needs to be done.”
While his generosity will create a lasting impact, Larry hopes people remember something much simpler about his life.
When asked what he would like others to say about him, his answer came quickly.
“I’d like people to be able to say that during my life, I was a kind person.”
Through his funds, that kindness will continue to live on. His legacy will support nonprofits, strengthen the community and create opportunities for future generations — a lasting expression of gratitude to the place he proudly calls home.
