Nina Milton (née Lander) grew up in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where her family’s deep connection to the Episcopal Church shaped much of her early life. Her grandfather was the long-serving rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont. However, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, Nina’s home parish, is where many of the Landers have worshiped over the years. In fact, her grandmother used to joke about counting how many of her grandchildren were at St. Mary’s altar for communion on Sundays. The church has always been an integral part of family life. From youth group activities to her own personal journey with faith, Nina’s story is woven with family ties and a love for service.
In the 1970s, Nina’s understanding of the world began to broaden. She recalls an eye-opening experience with her church youth group, visiting St. Barnabas, a place far removed from the familiar comforts of suburban Wayne. This was a pivotal moment that sparked her awareness of the disparities in society, a realization that grew deeper over the years.
Nina’s family had always supported Episcopal Community Services (ECS), though it wasn’t something she paid much attention to at first. It was simply part of the fabric of church life—like the blue UTO offering boxes and the Forward Day by Day booklets. As an adult, Nina followed in her family’s footsteps by engaging consciously with giving, including donations to ECS. As Nina became more financially independent, she started giving more consistently, even if the amounts were small. The consistency in giving, Nina shared, “keeps it on your heart.”
Eventually, Nina’s life took her away from Pennsylvania, leading her to South Carolina. Despite the distance, Nina remained connected to her parish and her family’s traditions. Over time, Nina signed on to be a member of the City Mission Legacy Society, a decision she made to ensure that her giving would have a lasting impact beyond her annual contributions.
To Nina, giving is not about being in the spotlight. She describes herself as someone who prefers to work quietly behind the scenes, washing dishes at the church’s soup kitchen or offering a helping hand where needed. But her philosophy is clear: “We are all a few bad decisions and bad luck away from the people ECS helps.” She believes deeply in the ECS mission of breaking the cycle of poverty, not just offering temporary relief but fostering real, lasting change.
Nina’s story serves as a reminder that philanthropy isn’t reserved for the wealthy. As she puts it, “I’m just a regular person. I can’t give tens of thousands of dollars every year, but if I can do something that makes a difference in the end, then I want to do it.” For Nina, giving is a way to express gratitude for her own good fortune and to help others on their journey toward a better life.
Her journey with ECS, from those small early contributions to her commitment to legacy giving, exemplifies the power of quiet, consistent generosity. It is a testament to how every bit helps, and how, over time, even modest donations can contribute to significant change.