1936-2016

Annual Benefit Honoree, 2017

Amelia Maiello Hagedorn was a true philanthropist.

Born in 1936 to immigrant parents, Amy never forgot her modest upbringing. When wealth came her way through marriage to Miracle-Gro founder Horace Hagedorn, she knew what to do with it: She chose to give it away through a foundation with a limited life span, making grants of meaningful size, to bring about real change on Long Island—change that she could witness in her lifetime.

Horace and Amy were part of the Long Island Community Foundation advisory board in 2001, when ERASE Racism was founded there. Amy’s ardent support of ERASE Racism over the next 16 years reflects her keen interest in and passion for systematic change to increase social justice and equity. With Amy’s support, ERASE Racism launched the Education Equity Initiative, the Partnership for Racial Equity, and programs to end housing discrimination and promote fair housing policies.

A former early childhood teacher, Amy also founded and served on the board of Sustainable Long Island, a non-partisan not-for-profit organization that promotes economic development, environmental health, and social equity through community-led revitalization efforts. Amy also served on the board of and supported the North Shore LIJ Health System, and – combining her love of dogs and helping people – she served on the northeast regional board of Canine Companions for Independence.

Students at Adelphi, Hofstra, Queens College, SUNY Old Westbury, and Amy’s alma mater, Baruch College of the City University of New York, have benefited from her and Horace’s generosity. Amy also monitored the progress of Miracle-Gro Kids, which provided financial help to third-grade children from financially challenged communities and helped their progress through college.

“Amy had a no-nonsense approach to philanthropy, and understood the important role that philanthropy played on Long Island,” Catherine Muscente, president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Long Island chapter, said. AFPLI board member Patrice Frank called Hagedorn “one of the more thoughtful and intelligent philanthropists” who sought to make an impact. “Amy always did her due diligence on organizations. When she made a commitment, it was because she felt they deserved and would make best use of their philanthropy.”