An Orange County couple is paying it forward by giving back to the same community that helped them after a tragic loss on Sept. 11. 

Erin Martucci lost her 23-year-old sister during the terror attacks.

The New Hampton woman says looking back, it had an unexpected silver lining when the community showed their support in full force.

"Everyone wanted to help and do something and it was very endearing and loving. And now I'm in a position where I can give back and that's what we want to do," she says.

Martucci and her entrepreneur husband, Mike, started the Martucci Foundation and have donated $250,000 of their own money to different nonprofits in the county, with a focus on families, children, education and employment.

"It's really something we wanted to do for a long time and we're very lucky now to be able to do it," she says. 

The pair recently donated $10,000 to Safe Homes to help families affected by domestic violence.

The Martuccis say they hope to serve as an inspiration to others who might be thinking of giving back to their community, whether it be by donating money or time.