Setting the Stage to Forever Support Her Passion

Deborah Wyld

Deborah Wyld’s love of the arts is rooted in Cleveland. As a child growing up there, the retired Norfolk Southern Corp. executive loved going with her family to the Cleveland Symphony and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

“Cleveland is a community that is very philanthropic and has an abundance of arts and culture,” says Deborah, a Smithfield resident and member of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation’s Legacy Society for Hampton Roads. “I assumed every community had a super symphony and a great arts museum. I now realize that this doesn’t happen unless people step up,” she explains.

When Deborah moved to Hampton Roads in 1982, she soon joined the Virginia Opera’s guild and chaired its gala. Since then, she has served on several local and statewide arts boards and commissions. As a regular donor to area arts organizations, Deborah is making sure her support continues forever. In her estate plans, she arranged to create a future designated fund at her community foundation that will provide annual grants to nonprofits meaningful to her.

Learn more about Deborah's passion for the arts in this video.