The Purcell Family Honored with Joe U. Posner Founders Award
November 5, 2026The Purcell Family are the recipients of the 2026 Joe U. Posner Founders Award, in recognition of their deep commitment to Greater Rochester and their long history of humble, generous, and engaged giving.
Kathy and her late husband, John, have been thoughtful supporters of organizations that strengthen education, healthcare, human services, faith-based service, and civic life.
Meet the Purcell Family
Kathy’s mother had taken some college courses, but her father, who served as a police officer for 25 years, hadn’t finished high school. Kathy’s parents made it clear how much they valued education. “That’s the beginning of my interest and John’s interest in education,” she says.
Kathy and John met at Le Moyne College. The Jesuit teachings learned there would go on to shape their lives, careers, and giving. Their alma mater was one of the first places they gave back to, financially and by mentoring young people.
The scale of the Purcell family’s philanthropy was made possible by John’s success in business. John built his career at Rochester Telephone over the course of 31 years before helping to launch Fibertech Networks. He was proud that his company provided local jobs, and had a lasting presence in Rochester.
John used to say, “I wasn’t from Rochester, but I got here as quickly as I could.”
Kathy enjoyed a fulfilling 32-year career supporting children with developmental delays and their families at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Together, Kathy and John raised four children — T.J., Dan, Kara, and Kevin.
The growth of her family to include grandchildren and a great-grandchild has inspired Kathy to focus on others: “Seeing how fortunate we had been and how much had been given to us reminded me, which I knew all along, that we needed to give back,” Kathy reflected.
A Family Legacy
She wants her children and grandchildren to one day be involved in the family fund. “My hope is that it continues through the generations of the Purcell family, that appreciation of all we have and the responsibility, because of that, to give back.”
“[John] attained big success later in life and he really didn’t have the opportunity to do with it what we, as a family, have been able to do since his passing. I think and I hope he would be proud of me. I think he would be very happy that he was able to play another part in the community’s development in some way.”
Giving Back with Time and Talents
John served on the boards of Nazareth College, the Memorial Art Gallery, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
“John always said he learned a lot of that from me, but I think he knew it before,” said Kathy. “He was a very, very generous person.”
Kathy has been on the board of Nativity Preparatory Academy for 10 years, and volunteers on a committee that champions student success in high school and beyond.
She also serves on the board for the House of Mercy — a local nonprofit that supports individuals experiencing homelessness — and spends time there every week.
These experiences have held a common thread for Kathy. “There are lots of people who can use support, and if we have the ability to make that happen, we should.”
The Power of a Giving in Community
Kathy uses her time, talents, and resources to address the issues she and John saw as fundamental and interconnected: education, health, job opportunities, housing, and financial stability. “It all ties together.”
“I started out giving to specific organizations that I was aware of. But then through the Community Foundation, I’ve actually become aware of some smaller initiatives that resonated with our interests. That’s been the benefit of the Foundation, is that it has made me aware of things that I would not have discovered on my own.”
Kathy believes you have to know what people need before you can help. She visited a local food cupboard to learn about their operations, then made a grant from the Purcell Family Fund to support their mission. They used her gift to buy a new, larger freezer, making it easier to keep the kinds of food their clients wanted.
“When you see the success of an organization that you’ve supported, or you see them making progress toward their goals, that feels really good.”
Recognizing Values in Action
By connecting deeply with the Rochester community and engaging her family in the habits of gratitude and generosity, Kathy continues the leadership she and John began together.
Rochester Area Community Foundation is proud to recognize the Purcell Family with the Joe U. Posner Award.
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