SueB—the Person, the Event, the Endowment

SueB—the Person, the Event, the Endowment

Marj and her sister Sue

by Marjory J. Sente

A word frequently has multiple meanings and can bring to mind different images. SueB is one of those words for me.

The Person

Eleven years ago, when I lost my sister Susan B. Newby, I was devastated by the tragedy of losing her. One never expects to lose a younger sister, especially in a mysterious and absolutely unexplainable accident that occurred while she was riding horseback with her husband.

I soon learned that a couple of Sue’s friends called her SueB from the years she played soccer with them, and they wanted to do something in her memory. We planted trees, but that was not enough. So Leslie Hempe, Teresa Andrew and I organized the first SueB Memorial Stroll in 2010 with the proceeds to benefit the WCA.

The Event

This year on October 6 we are celebrating a milestone—the tenth SueB Memorial 5k/10k Walk/Run. Come join us. I’m both happy and humbled to mark this occasion. When we launched the endeavor in 2010, I worried whether the SueB memorial event would be sustainable. After the WCA embraced and provided support for it, I am thrilled to see how it has grown strong legs and is a marque event every October usually leading off the organization’s domestic violence awareness month activities. I am humbled by the many volunteers, runners, sponsors and friends who have supported and continue to support SueB with their time and talents. I thank you.

The Endowment

In 2010, my husband Frank and I planted a seed for the future of the WCA.  We established the SueB Fund, an endowment to benefit the organization for years to come. With our initial gifts, a bequest and money raised from past SueB events, this endowment now has grown to more than $300,000.  Again I thank the many donors who have helped to keep my sister Sue’s memory alive through generous contributions. Contributions that in turn will help others in their fight against domestic violence.

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