Throughout their careers at 3M, Cathy and John Muggee leveraged analytical thinking and an end-to-end approach to improve systems, create efficiencies, design new products, and maximize results. That method is a strength they appreciate in United Way’s approach to meeting the greatest human service needs in the Twin Cities today.
A life-changing family event when their young son was diagnosed with leukemia impressed upon them the value of a coordinated support system to navigate that challenge. Cathy and John were grateful for good insurance and for community members who stepped up to help them. This experience led them to better understand the challenges many in our community face. “We realized there are people who don’t have stable housing, food, and other basic needs,” Cathy shares. “So, think about trying to deal with a major crisis like ours without that stability. We knew then that our focus needed to be on supporting those in the community who didn’t have that safety net.”
A positive outcome for their son and lasting gratitude inspired John and Cathy to invest more annually as Tocqueville Society members, and to plan a future gift through their estate for Greater Twin Cities United Way.
Cathy and John also learned years ago about the multigenerational value of investing in early childhood education through a presentation from Art Rolnick, then senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. That perspective also inspired them to invest now in United Way’s 80x3 innovation initiative, focused on trauma informed early childhood care and education. While this work is complex, Cathy says their background in science helps them see that no challenge is too overwhelming to tackle.
John adds, “We often are surprised when we engage more deeply just how much we have to give and just how much those gifts are appreciated.”
Beyond their financial contributions, John and Cathy are active volunteers, giving of their time and talents to support our community. In recent years, they served on our Planned Giving & Endowment Committee, with Cathy as chair for two years, and John is a member of the Greater Twin Cities United Way Board of Directors.
During a recent food packing event at The Good Acre, a Greater Twin Cities United Way partner, John shared his thoughts on the power of giving back to the community. “My comment to anyone who’s thinking about volunteering for the first time is, you’re always going to end up getting more out of it that you put into it,” shared John. Watch his full interview:
While reflecting on the legacy they want to leave, Cathy notes a theme from a past United Way Legacy Luncheon: “When you realize a legacy gift is how you make a difference with what’s left at the end of your life, it doesn’t necessarily change how you live now, so much as how you think about the impact you can make in the future.”
