My father has told numerous stories
of how these values were passed down to him from
his parents. He recalls a time during the Great
Depression when he and my grandfather resorted to
peddling peanuts in order to support the family.
But, regardless of how hard they struggled to make
ends meet, there was always a jar in the kitchen
for collecting change for others who needed help.
During the course of my life I have witnessed this
value-guided determination as my parents have negotiated
the hills and valleys of their lives. They have
worked hard. They have saved. They have always given
of their time and money to community organizations,
as they have been able. They have dedicated themselves
to their family, country, and religious heritage.
And they count the bounty of their blessings.
In 1986 they performed a remarkable act. They established
our family foundation. They could have done other
things with their hard earned savings. They could
have simply let them accumulate, or they could have
lived more lavishly. But instead they heard a higher
calling. And this calling, I believe, floated to
them on the wings of the important values my grandfather
held so dear – values that he himself had
absorbed from his parents, and that they in turn
received from their parents before them –
and so on, down the line. Today we strive to express
these time-honored values in the operation of our
Foundation.
Determination drives the time and effort
spent on our initiatives – the proactive
side of our activities. Compassion forms
the basis of our sense of urgency – because
every day that passes and every effort that falls
short represents a failed opportunity to be helpful
to real people in need. Gratitude causes
us to work hard to put each and every dollar to
use – for we appreciate the good fortune,
the sweat, and the sacrifice from which our assets
derive. Overarching all of these values is a sense
of duty to help repair the world and
leave it in better condition than it was when
it was put in our hands to care for. Determination,
Compassion, Gratitude, and Duty. These are
the cornerstone values that our Foundation strives
to embody and honor.
As we go about our work we recognize that none
of us accomplishes much of anything meaningful
alone. So, I thank all of the kindred spirits
who work tirelessly in the non-profit trenches
day-in and day-out to make this world a better
place for all – and to each and every person
who links arms in the amazing human chain of caring
of which we are a part. It is only through the
dedicated and collective effort of many that we
succeed.
As I write this message it is warming to hear
the echoes of my grandfather and humbling as well.
Though he left everything behind to face the unknown
almost a century ago, he brought with him important
values that I feel privileged to carry forward.
It seems fitting, therefore, to dedicate this
website to my grandfather – a man of steadfast
character – Samuel Mayerson.
Neal H. Mayerson, Ph.D.
President
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