The $1 million dollar contribution during the June "Cure for Sure" dinner for the Hartman Foundation, with the Michael J. Fox Foundation expected to match the donation, will help make giant strides in funding research. Msgr. Thomas Hartman said, "Agnes Funk is one of the most generous and caring people on Long Island. She, along with her husband, John, had been surprising needy organizations on Long Island with their donations. Now that John is in heaven, Agnes continues his legacy with a keen eye to the needs of the most creative and altruistic organizations on Long Island. When Agnes heard that research money could be spent on the causes and the curing of Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease and dystonia, she wanted to be a part of history. She wanted to remind Long Island that we can take care of our sick. She looked around her home and saw that a face lift of the home wasn't as necessary as finding a cure for these diseases. Agnes, you are, in the words of Rabbi Gellman, Ôa mensch.'"

The Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson's Research seeks to provide grants for the newest and most innovative scientific projects, which offer the best hope for the advancement and development of a cure. Medical technology can only advance with the generous support of philanthropic people like Agnes Trill Funk. Without that funding, more people Ñ adults as well as children Ñ are at risk each day, while the technology to cure and prevent certain illnesses is on the horizon.

Until recently, Agnes' days of philanthropic work have been a shared passion with John Funk, her late husband. Together they worked at the Catholic Club at St. Matthias in Ridgewood, Queens, and the National Center for Disability Services and ran the annual barbecue for Schneider Children's Hospital. At the Long Island Philharmonic, both served as non-paid guest conductors. They distributed flyers, collated mailings, staffed the gift shop and coordinated Christmas parties. For 20 years, John assisted Meals on Wheels through St. Francis Hospital, a task allowing this "soft spoken" man to interact with shut-ins and often helped people with household chores and errands. Agnes and John opened their hearts to children in need and their support benefited St. Mary's Children & Family Services in Syosset and St. Christopher-Ottilie. Through the Gift of Life donor program, the Funks personally sponsored 12 children from developing countries for heart surgery and were presented the Angel Award for this exemplary contribution. Agnes and John were honored at the November 2003 Philanthropy Day luncheon, sponsored by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals L.I. They were presented with the Outstanding Philanthropist award. Agnes continues to work with organizations for which the Funks volunteered both hours and funds.

At a young age, Agnes was ready and willing to take a chance. Having taken the advice from her sister many years ago to "establish credit," Agnes has been able to provide for herself and her family through the years. A $500,000 loan to make a successful stock investment is just one example of how original thought and trust in her own convictions have propelled Agnes from the depths of the Great Depression to the 21st century.

Says Agnes, "Women aren't given enough credit. I feel that if I can do it many other women can be encouraged to do it. I have been asked for advice by many women, and I give it. No one has ever been hurt by it." Some advice she shared was "get a good lawyer" and "don't put all your eggs in one basket."
What has worked for Agnes in her rise to financial independence may not be the answer for everyone. But for her, through hard work, savvy investments in companies such as Snapple, and real estate dealings, Agnes found that her take on life has worked. It is not to say that there have only been gains, but with each gain there is the opportunity to take risks and even losses. Over a period of years, Agnes has taken each opportunity and has chosen to be a participant, share her wealth and not squander what she has been so fortunate to receive. "God has provided," she affirmed.

Agnes would often respond to John's concerns regarding investments saying, "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it." Agnes always did and still continues to make decisions that work. Deeply devoted to her church, Agnes believes that the million dollar donation to the Hartman Foundation is an investment in the future of medical advances for the search for a cure; the cure for Msgr. Hartman and the Pope. The money for this donation has been borrowed against her assets. In life she has found that when "I give $5 with the right hand, I get $10 back with the left and so the next time I give $10 with the right hand. No good goes unrewarded," Agnes notes in an interview with Networking magazine, "Doing for others gives you a very good feeling inside. I'm here to make a difference."

For over 25 years Agnes worked for Woolworth's in the buying office and as a sales person for a home improvement company, all the while living in a six-family home, working as the maintenance person for that house in an effort to save money. Resourceful and ambitious, Agnes saved her money, valued what she had, and was a "great shopper." She showed that anyone could dress like the movie stars and she thought, "that was the way to go" for her. A typical outfit was everything matching, from the hat down to her shoes. Agnes fondly remembers how the children in the neighborhood would call her "Miss Hollywood."

St. John The Baptist Church, just opposite Madison Square Garden, is where Agnes met and married John Funk, the man of her dreams. She lovingly describes John Funk, the man she was married to for over 35 years and whom she misses terribly since his September 2003 death. Agnes had joined the local drama society and was cast as John's wife in a production. They began working together at various church events setting up the hall for parties and what brought her closer to John was how she "observed the fact that he was a gentleman and I was interested in that. I was interested in a person who could be so kind and so sweet." A courtship ensued and within two years the couple proudly walked down the aisle in 1968. Since Agnes had never been married and John was a widower, she wanted everything that everyone else had for her wedding. She didn't like the way she looked in white and so pink was the theme. The wedding was different Ñ adorable Ñ with everyone adorned in pink. John sold his home, divided the proceeds of the sale among his four children and moved in with Agnes. John worked for the United Parcel Service in the national office for over 37 years.

Agnes and John continued their work in amateur theater in the capacity of acting or producing. Agnes took on the challenges that were involved and the dedication that theatre work required. Entertaining, fundraising, working for the Children's Medical Fund as trustees and helping the neighborhood children soon enveloped and filled their lives with philanthropic work.