Growing up down the road from Avila University, Cathy Cyr Nigro witnessed the evolution of the school since it relocated to its South Kansas City campus.
“As a young girl, I went to school just up the hill from Avila, and you couldn’t leave without going by Avila,” she said. “Avila has been in my memory as far back as I can remember. We’ve seen it develop, grow and adapt to the community.”
Devout Catholics, her parents Rod and Jo Anne Cyr imparted the importance of compassion, education and family to Cathy and her sister, Suzie. In that spirit, Rod and Jo Anne established the Roderick J. & Jo Anne Cyr Foundation to support causes related to education, and children and elderly welfare.
“We are looking for those organizations where you can tell the people have told themselves, ‘I’m going to devote my life to this,’” said Chris Nigro, Cathy’s son. “You know when you’re giving to those organizations it could have a transformative effect on the organization and those they serve. Avila has that level of passion in their service.”
Cathy and Suzie came to understand the importance of continuing their parents’ legacy of being a good neighbor to the Kansas City community, through philanthropy as well as a way for it to continue in future generations.
“I didn’t realize it at the time my dad created the foundation, but I think his purpose was to keep us together and establish something with his values that would require we all work together,” Cathy said. “I think the emphasis on family is part of his legacy with the foundation; he created it in a way where we are obligated to rely on one another as a family and we all work together.”
When it came time for the Cyr Foundation to continue to support excellence in education, they looked to the family’s long-time neighbor, Avila. The Foundation established the Cyr Family Endowed Scholarship in 2015, providing aid to an at-need, full-time student who excels in the classroom and embodies the values of the Cyr Family. With the scholarship, the family entered the University’s Heritage Society. In addition, the Foundation has been a key donor to establish the Goppert Performing Arts Center, as well as annual scholarships, Steer Dinner and a program called the Quality Initiative, which provided targeted retention efforts for at-risk students.
“It’s important for us to affiliate the Roderick and Jo Anne Cyr Foundation with the highest caliber of education” Cathy said. “Everything about Avila is outstanding, and I’m proud to say we can be a part of it. Because of the attitude of excellence that is here, it seemed such a natural fit that Avila would be part of our philanthropy.”