15 Years of Grantmaking: Christopher & RoAnn M. Destito Family Fund

In every thriving community, there are individuals whose generosity and bold vision shape a brighter future. RoAnn Destito, a dedicated supporter and Board member of the Community Foundation, exemplifies this spirit. Through her philanthropic leadership and deep-rooted commitment to giving back, she has helped spark meaningful change and inspired others to do the same.

In 2010, RoAnn created the Christopher & RoAnn M. Destito Family Fund in memory of her husband, Christopher, who passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Christopher was an avid supporter of the Rome community that he called home, and RoAnn wanted to make sure that the fund would continue his legacy by supporting the events and initiatives that he held dear.

“The focus of this fund has always been on the events and causes that my husband cared about,” RoAnn explained. “Christopher was one of the founders of the Honor America Days in Rome, so I have always made sure to support them each year in his memory. While the emphasis is on Rome organizations and activities, I don’t limit it strictly to that area. Our son is now deeply involved in giving back as well, so we support causes that I feel are very meaningful—and that Christopher would have found meaningful, too.”

In 1992, RoAnn was elected to represent the 116th New York State Assembly district. During her time in the Assembly, she worked to advance and strengthen the state’s procurement practices, opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, and support for military families. In 2011, she was unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate as Commissioner of the Office of General Services, the first woman to serve in that position.

In 2021, after 40 years of state service, she retired. Supporting her community remains an important part of her life and is something she cherishes deeply.

“My goal is always to make sure that a community is strong,” she said. “A community is strong when they have a good educational system, good health care and good housing. I’m very pleased to support these three pillars through my family fund when I can.”

Since its inception, the fund has awarded nearly $55,000 in grants—a figure RoAnn hopes will continue to grow in the years ahead. Inspired by the values her parents instilled in her, she’s now passing on that same spirit of philanthropy to her grandchildren, encouraging them to embrace the joy and responsibility of giving back.

“My parents were both public servants and involved in giving back to their community, and I think that’s why I chose a public service career myself,” she explained. “It pleases me to see that my son is just as dedicated to giving back as his father once was, and I see these same sentiments developing in his children. It’s an amazing thing to support your community, but it’s even better to see others doing the same. It’s very important to me that the people of this community know that I’m thankful for the support that they gave me in the past and that I continue to do everything I can to pay it forward.”