In a heartwarming display of generosity, billionaire Robert Hale Jr. stunned the 1,200 graduates of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth during their commencement ceremony last Thursday.
The co-founder and president of Granite Telecommunications and part owner of the Boston Celtics had a surprise in store – each graduate would receive $1,000 in cash, with one catch: half of it was theirs to keep, while the other half was to be donated to someone or an organization in need.
The Surprise Announcement
As Hale took the stage, he praised the students for their hard work and perseverance despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Drawing from his own experiences, he urged the graduates not to let failure define them.
“Honestly, have you guys ever met someone who lost a billion dollars before?” Hale asked in his speech, referring to his own past financial struggles.
Then, he revealed his and his wife Karen’s plan to celebrate the graduates’ achievements by giving them each $1,000.
“Listen, there’s a stipulation — hang on!” he said. “The first $500 is our gift to you. The second $500 is for you to give to somebody else or another organization who could use it more than you.”
As he spoke, security officers carried two black duffel bags onstage, filled with 3,000 envelopes decorated by local elementary school students.
Each envelope was labeled either “gift” or “give.”
Students’ Reactions
The announcement was met with thunderous cheers and applause from the graduates, who could hardly contain their excitement.
As they walked across the stage to accept their diplomas, they were also handed their pair of envelopes, their smiles beaming from ear to ear.
Ali McKelvey, one of the students, shared her disbelief: “My friends and I were looking at each other like, no way. We were like, this has to be a joke.”
About the UMass Dartmouth Class of 2024
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Class of 2024 is a diverse group of 1,200 students, with 40% being first-generation college students and 31% identifying as students of color.
The university takes pride in its commitment to providing accessible education to students from various backgrounds.
| UMass Dartmouth Class of 2024 Demographics | Percentage |
|---|---|
| First-generation college students | 40% |
| Students of color | 31% |
Robert Hale Jr.’s Background and Philanthropy
Robert Hale Jr., with an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion according to Forbes, ranks as the 203rd richest American.
Beyond his business ventures, including co-founding Granite Telecommunications and being a part owner of the Boston Celtics, Hale is known for his extensive philanthropic efforts.
Over the years, Hale has donated more than $270 million to various charitable causes, focusing on areas such as cancer research and educational institutions.
His commitment to giving back has earned him recognition and respect within the philanthropic community.
Previous Surprise Graduation Gifts
The UMass Dartmouth graduation surprise is not the first time Hale has pulled off such a generous act.
Over the past three years, he has surprised graduates at Quincy College, Roxbury Community College, and UMass Boston with similar cash gifts, emphasizing the importance of giving back to those in need.
The Inspiration Behind the Gift
Hale and his wife were inspired to celebrate and motivate students who had faced the challenges of the pandemic head-on.
By gifting them with not only cash for themselves but also the opportunity to donate, they hoped to plant a “seed” of giving within the graduates, allowing them to experience the joy of making a positive impact on others’ lives.
“If they get to feel that joy themselves, then maybe it becomes something they want to do again, and make part of their own lives,” Hale explained in an interview. “In America and the world, these are times of turmoil, and the more we help each other, the better off we’ll be.”
Examples of Students’ Donation Plans
The graduates wasted no time in deciding where they would direct their $500 donations.
Some planned to give to women’s shelters, children’s theater organizations, or fundraisers for relatives’ cancer treatments.
Others, like Tony da Costa, chose to help individuals in need:
“I felt like giving it to a specific person would feel better,” said da Costa, who decided to give his $500 to an acquaintance of his mother who is struggling with illness and bills.
Hale’s Advice for Graduates and Aspiring Philanthropists
For those looking to make a difference through charitable giving, Hale advises choosing a cause that is meaningful and important to you.
He encourages focusing on long-term support through regular gifts, even if the amounts are modest.
“To me, that’s the key ingredient, is how important it is to you,” Hale said, pointing to his own focus on children and education.
“Everybody has somewhat limited resources. So if you’re sharing them, it better be something that tugs at your heartstrings.”
Hale’s advice aligns with expert tips on smart and sustainable giving, which emphasize the importance of selecting causes that resonate with your values and making a long-term commitment to support them.
The Importance of Giving and Sharing
In a world often marked by division and strife, Hale’s act of generosity serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of giving and sharing.
By encouraging the graduates to experience the joy of helping others, he hopes to inspire a ripple effect of kindness and compassion.
Conclusion
As the UMass Dartmouth Class of 2024 embarks on the next chapter of their lives, they carry with them not only their hard-earned degrees but also the memory of an unexpected act of generosity that left a lasting impact.
Robert Hale Jr.’s surprise gift has given them the opportunity to experience firsthand the joy and fulfillment that comes from helping others.
Through his example, Hale has shown that success and wealth can be used to make a positive difference in the world.
As these graduates navigate their own paths, they have been inspired to embrace the spirit of giving and to make a commitment to supporting causes that matter to them.
In a time when the world needs more kindness and compassion, Robert Hale Jr.’s surprise gift serves as a shining example of the power of generosity to transform lives and communities.
May it inspire us all to give a little more, share a little more, and make the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.