JOYFUL PIECE #47
An unselfish focus and seed...
University of Massachusetts at Amherst campus view geese and lake and chapel. Image by Tomwsulcer, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
Starting out with funds, values, vision is every college student’s dream.
These are times of uncertainty for college graduates. They have made their commitment to a way of life, a career, a vocation. But nothing is guaranteed and many of them have bills coming due.
Amid that consider:
- an ill person struggling to pay bills who gets an unexpected infusion of hundreds of dollars
- The YWCA receives a hefty infusion of cash for its programs for young women and survivors of violence
- a local group that provides holiday gifts for children receives unexpected funds
- a women’s shelter for disadvantaged women is surprised with a serious gift
All the above and much more is being made possible because a billionaire and his wife, Rob and Karen Hale, famous for their philanthropic work, gave each graduate at commencement at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst $1000.00. It was given in two envelopes to each of the 1200 graduates— $500 for discretionary spending and $500 to be given to a good cause of the graduate’s choice.
The Hales are celebrating the graduates’ efforts, alleviating some of their burden, and most importantly establishing the habit of charitable giving. In the selfish and greedy environment in which we live, this is cause for joy.
These philanthropists have a reputation for being among the most generous benefactors in the country. In 2022 they gave away $1 million/week to well-known and lesser-known good causes. They believe that the more we help one another the better off we can all be. And true to that, they carefully select the colleges that receive the benefit of their philanthropy— they are public colleges with high concentrations of lower income students who have worked hard to earn their college degrees. Kudos to this visionary couple!
Rob Hale and his wife say that they have found deep joy in giving their money away. You can read more here about the philanthropy of billionaire Rob Hale and his wife, Karen.
As the country is on the brink of being torn apart by the heated diatribes of greedy and selfish politicians, it is a great joy to hear about the above-cited good works.
This post, Manuel, brightened my day. How I wish I had the funds to do something like that! The fact that there are people like them is inspiring and uplifting. Thank you for sharing something I would have never heard or seen elsewhere. It lacks fearmongering, so the news media is unintetested. I can just imagine the joy of hose graduates. Maybe some do not need it: I hope they will pass it on to those who do. The ones that really need the money, I wish them success so they might someday pay it forward. Great post. Gracias, Manuel!
Thank you, Manuel, for posting this piece. Rob and Karen Hale are the kind of down to earth heroes we need right now. I LOVE this process that they initiated. They are teaching these graduates how it feels to share the wealth in a way that is satisfying and real.