Remembering Lois Schaffer

Lois was a founding member of the Women's Fund and a program officer at the Community Foundation.

We are saddened by the loss of Lois Schaffer, a former friend and employee of the Community Foundation, who recently passed away. During her time at the Community Foundation in the 1990s, she served as a program officer who championed the importance of quality childcare. She was also a founding member of the Women’s Fund of Central New York, an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation.

Former CNYCF president and CEO, Peggy Ogden, remembered much of Lois’s meaningful work: “The success of many of the Community Foundation’s most important and impactful programs—The Leadership Classroom, the Child Care Initiative, and the Women’s Fund—is due to the leadership skills and loving guidance of Lois Schaffer. The Community Foundation was blessed to have her as its first dedicated program officer; her compassion and collegiality set the tone for grantmaking that is inclusive and welcoming to all.”

Additionally, Lois and her husband Mike helped to establish Congregation Beth Sholom and traveled to Bolivia and Peru, establishing three dental clinics for orphaned children. It is no wonder that she received the 2004 Post-Standard Person of Achievement award.

We are grateful to spend a moment remembering such a thoughtful and caring human whose paths crossed ours over many decades.

Related Stories

children dancing on stage
News Releases May 17, 2023

Funder Collaborative Formed to Increase STEM Youth Programming

$120,000 in grant funding will help bring nationally recognized STEM from Dance program to region.

Publications May 10, 2023

Point of View

Giving Voice Spring 2023: Point of View

Woman standing in doorway
Publications May 10, 2023

Planning a Benevolent Exit

Giving Voice Spring 2023: Giving Matters

Women sitting together
News Releases May 3, 2023

Doula Care Project Chosen by City Residents to Receive $150K for Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts

More than 480 votes were cast by Syracuse residents on Tuesday; $150,000 participatory budgeting grant ...

Woman standing in front of statue
Publications May 2, 2023

Gwen Webber-Mcleod

Gwen's parents grew up in the Jim Crow South and met while studying at North ...

children dancing on stage
News Releases May 17, 2023

Funder Collaborative Formed to Increase STEM Youth Programming

$120,000 in grant funding will help bring nationally recognized STEM from Dance program to region.

Publications May 10, 2023

Point of View

Giving Voice Spring 2023: Point of View

Woman standing in doorway
Publications May 10, 2023

Planning a Benevolent Exit

Giving Voice Spring 2023: Giving Matters

Women sitting together
News Releases May 3, 2023

Doula Care Project Chosen by City Residents to Receive $150K for Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts

More than 480 votes were cast by Syracuse residents on Tuesday; $150,000 participatory budgeting grant ...

Woman standing in front of statue
Publications May 2, 2023

Gwen Webber-Mcleod

Gwen's parents grew up in the Jim Crow South and met while studying at North ...

View More