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Generous Hearts

Retirement Brings Clarity

by Susan Bonnett Bourgeois

MILLENNIALS GET A BAD RAP for the ways they think and live differently from the generations before them, but maybe the rest of us are figuring out that they just might be on to something. Generally, they have determined that they want their lives to be full of human experiences, driven by purpose and meaningful in some bigger-than-a-paycheck ways. Ironically, many recent retirees are coming around to the exact same way of thinking. Retirement looks different than it did just a generation before, and now it is filled with new and exciting options of experiences and opportunities that provide a richness to life well beyond dollars and cents.

These three Northshore retirees have created lives that are focused on giving back, making an impact and contributing to something bigger than themselves.

Michael Morgan

Mike Morgan spent his career as a lawyer and investment banker, boldly putting together deals and managing capital. In this new phase of his life, he is using that same energy to impact the lives of children in dramatic ways. He has a special place in his heart for children who are economically disadvantaged or who have physical or mental challenges, because, as he puts it, “I am lucky to have two healthy children and the financial wherewithal to provide them the tools they need to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential. Many families are not so lucky.”

That passion led Mike to the Grant’s Gift Foundation, and he has been a leader in their work ever since, helping families of special needs children with equipment and enrichment opportunities that they could otherwise not afford. Specialized wheelchairs, service dogs and inclusive summer camps are only some of the ways the Grant’s Gift Foundation changes lives. Their lofty goals now include the construction of an inclusive playground adjacent to the Miracle League Baseball field at Coquille. Mike is investing all of his energy in making that playground a reality, because he is grateful that retirement has allowed him more time to focus on the causes that matter to him.

Elaine Wirth

Elaine starts every day in a conversation with God where she asks, “How can I be of service today?” After running a software consulting and training company in New York for 20 years, she has a lot more time to carry out “the direction He points her in.” She always wanted to be involved in traditional philanthropy, but working a 60-80 hour week and cross country travel 10 days every month made it that much harder, so she engaged where she could, but remained focused on her career. She never lost sight, however, of what it felt like to need a helping hand. She and her husband, Wayne, have lived a life of philanthropy by housing those who needed a place to stay during hard times, doing loads of pro-bono work for worthy nonprofits needing her services, such as Covenant House and Doctors Without Borders, and even by sponsoring a young refugee whose parents were murdered in Guatemala.

Touching the lives of people is a big part of what she does now that she lives here in Covington—in a cooking ministry at St. Benedict’s, serving at the Northshore Food bank and volunteering with foster children at James Samaritan. But when she met the team (including Bones, the cat on a leash) from Big Sky Ranch/CATNIP at a Northshore Community Foundation event, she knew she wanted to be a part of it. From adopting Moon, her newest cat, to volunteering to develop tracking software for them and now serving on the board. Elaine’s commitment to animals is as meaningful as her love of her fellow humans.

“Retirement has given me the opportunity to spend time with wonderful organizations that continue to show me, even with the craziness of today’s world—people are still good. And I am thankful. I am so fortunate to have the life I do, and hopefully, I can be part of making the world a little better.”

Alexis Hocevar

Alexis led an impressive but stressful career in the automobile rental industry, running a huge corporation’s South Louisiana operation with 3,000 employees, 80 locations and 15,000 cars. Giving back to the communities they serve was part of both their mission and business strategy, so he was involved in countless philanthropic efforts as part of his professional role. As he described, “I was fortunate to work for a company whose owner created a culture of giving that permeated everything we did with customers, partners and employees.”

Enterprise and the United Way had a long-standing relationship nationally, and he was introduced to it at the local level because of the company. Over many years that relationship grew and he was ultimately recognized as an Alexis De Tocqueville honoree in 2016, their highest level of philanthropy.

When Alexis retired, he quickly realized that his time was the treasure he now wanted to invest. Company connections often drove his giving in his career life; now he could decide where he wanted to direct his time and efforts. Always having a love and passion for the water, and living only a few blocks away, Alexis took an interest in the Maritime Museum and has been instrumental in much of its recent success, especially in securing $1.6 million to save the shoreline surrounding the Lighthouse.

In addition to the Maritime Museum, Alexis’ heart drives his involvement in the ALS Foundation (his dad had ALS) and the Al Copeland Foundation (his brother had cancer). Alexis now packs his calendar with the projects that matter to him, and that investment serves our communities as much as it fulfills him.

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