Graduations speeches are supposed to inspire. But this one changed lives. To the utter shock of all of those in attendance, billionaire technology investor and philanthropist, Robert F. Smith, announced that his family was providing grants to pay off the student loans of the approximately 400 Morehouse College graduating seniors of 2019. He then told them he was confident that they would likewise pay it forward, exactly what he was doing. It is one thing to be successful and have money, it is something else to recognize that it is a gift, use it towards helping others, and encourage them to do the same. The Hebrew word, “to give” is “natan” which is a palindrome. The message is that when we recognize the blessing in what we have, we respond by giving. And when we give wholeheartedly and with pure intentions, we gain so much from the giving that we are also receivers. This is what Robert Smith accomplished in his extreme generosity. He showed the utmost gratitude for what he received by giving to others and encouraged the receivers to become future givers. Congratulations to the 2019 graduating class of Morehouse College!
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