Rod and Joy Thorson’s commitment to giving back to their community.

Rod and Joy Thorson’s story began unexpectedly—with Rod arriving in Iowa for what was supposed to be an eight-week project. “My project took over two years to resolve,” Rod recalled. “And in that time, I found that I liked Iowa.” During his extended stay, Rod met Joy, and while his job took him across the country and the world, their connection grew. After six years of dating long-distance, they married—beginning a life together defined by love, service, and generosity.

Joy, a lifelong Iowan, worked for the University of Northern Iowa for nearly four decades. A breast cancer survivor—now living with metastatic breast cancer—Joy has turned her experience into advocacy. “I know God told me… ‘I’ve given you pretty good health for seven years now, and you have a big mouth. I’d like you to go out and advocate for women who can’t advocate for themselves,’” she said. “So that’s what I’m doing—as long as I possibly can.”

Rod and Joy’s personal experiences—Joy’s cancer journey, Rod’s international work, and both of their encounters with hardship and kindness—shaped their desire to give back. “We are here just to love people. It’s that simple,” said Joy. “And if I’ve got some extra, I don’t mind giving it.”

The couple now gives through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a partnership that began while updating their wills. Their attorney, a Foundation board member, suggested they could simplify their giving and create a lasting legacy. “We give a percentage forever. We like that—in perpetuity,” said Joy.

Rod added, “Our kids are both successful. They’re not really looking for anything from us. We wanted our end-of-life money to keep alive the things that were important to us while we were living.” Their fund supports causes close to their hearts: breast cancer advocacy, local theater, and organizations serving vulnerable communities.

For the Thorsons, working with the Community Foundation isn’t just about simplicity—it’s about vision. “Once we learned what the Community Foundation does, we knew. That was a no-brainer,” said Joy. “Knowledge is power. And now we can just tell them what we want to support—and they make it happen.”

“We’ve been blessed,” said Rod. “It’s easy to see there’s a lot of need. And if we can be part of the solution—why wouldn’t we?”