Purpose, Philanthropy, and a Life Well-Built

For longtime volunteer and Foundation board trustee Sheryl Amaral, giving back to Brown University Health is both personal and purposeful – a way to carry forward the life she built with her late husband, Everett.

The couple’s connection to the health system runs deep. As Everett Amaral grew his construction business, he partnered with Brown Health to develop healing spaces for patients and families. Sheryl brought her expertise in healthcare and communications to national advocacy efforts while supporting programs at  Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam, and Hasbro Children’s. Their shared belief in access to exceptional care shaped much of their work and their giving. 

Following Everett’s passing from cancer, Sheryl’s connection with Brown Health, and Hasbro Children’s, specifically, grew. This involvement became a lifeline as Sheryl built a life of purpose without her husband by her side, continuing to lead, volunteer, and give in ways that reflect the values the couple held together. Her longtime involvement with the Heroes Ball holds special meaning and gives her a chance to introduce others to the work she’s most passionate about. “It’s the most magical event in the state,” she says.

Sheryl has deepened her commitment to Hasbro Children’s by including the hospital and, specifically, the Child Life Services endowment, in her estate plans. “I’ve known deep loss,” she shares. “But I also believe in hope and in doing what we can for the people who come next.”