Donor profile: Sonia Bury

I give to the Society because I believe it’s the right thing to do. There are many ways to share God’s love, and I’m involved in some of those through the work I do. Through my financial gifts, I can be involved in priority initiatives of the Good Samaritan Society that make a difference for people in other ways.

My donations are going to general purposes of the Foundation rather than a specific fund. However, over the years I have often given money for staff scholarships, which I used to work with. When we help employees fund their education, we’re making an investment in those people and in what they’ll be able to contribute to others in the future.

Giving back to the Society makes me feel like I’m making a difference, however small that might be.

With the perpetual giving option, I don’t have to stop and write a check or initiate a transaction on a regular basis. I can set it up once the way I want it to work and I don’t have to think about it again. For a larger gift, that also helps spread the gift out over time.

Perpetual giving to the Good Samaritan Foundation
Gifts to the Foundation can be made in monthly or quarterly donations. Perpetual giving takes the work out of planned giving. You can learn more about setting up an automatic monthly or quarterly gift here. Donors who choose to give monthly or quarterly often find that they are able to give more than they expected. Perpetual giving spreads out support over time, easing the burden on your wallet and granting the Foundation a reliable stream of support.

My husband and I both grew up in homes where giving to the church was a priority, and our parents taught us to continue that practice. Philanthropy has been an important value for us since the beginning of our marriage.

I am most proud of our two sons, who have become wonderful young men.

I believe that our purpose in life is to make connections with other people and to use the unique gifts God has given each of us to serve others.

We give to our church, and I currently lead the stewardship team there. We also give to the foundation of my husband’s employer, and we give to various local programs and services, such as Lutheran Social Services and Feeding South Dakota. My husband and I were each involved in mentoring for several years until last year when our mentees graduated.

I would like people to care more about one another and try harder to understand each other. I would like people to celebrate our differences, rather than allow our differences to separate us.