We grew up five minutes apart in Mt. Vernon, NY, but never met. That changed in spring 1985, when I visited Syracuse as a High School senior. My host student asked if I knew a guy from my town named Sanford; I said no — she took me to his dorm and introduced us. We fell hard that weekend, and I asked him to my senior prom. He said yes without hesitation! We married in 1991, and 41 years later, our hometown love story is still going strong — anchored by a beautiful life and two incredible sons.

After decades together, we still love pushing outside our comfort zone. Costa Rica ziplining was on our bucket list, our favorite memory is standing on one of its highest platforms, overlooking the breathtaking cloud forest below. We were terrified, but took the leap together. Flying side-by-side through the clouds reminded us that life's greatest adventures happen when you trust the person beside you completely. After thirty-five years of marriage, we're still choosing adventure and each other.

We want to use this to invest in love! Part of the funds will launch our dream of a wedding officiant service — not just to help couples say "I do," but to show them that a forever love like ours is possible for them too. The rest will fund a special 35th anniversary trip. After dedicating decades to building our careers and raising our two incredible sons, this getaway will be a chance to explore a new corner of the world and celebrate the beautiful foundation we've built together.