Reaching Out

These messages focus on how we make special efforts to respond to others’ needs.

    • Sustaining Change

      It was 1947, and Veterans who served in World War II had returned to campus. They were a legendary group who would go on to become leaders in organizations across the country. But they would also introduce Americans to new realities. One such reality involved a...

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    • Giving Credit

      Vivien Thomas was the grandson of a slave. He wanted to go to medical school, but the depression made this financially impossible. He got a job that was classified and paid as a janitor. On his first day working at Vanderbilt, he assisted one of the doctors on an...

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    • Sustaining Connections

      Adam Rifkin, often called the Panda, was named by Fortune magazine as the best networker in the business world. As Rifkin says: “My network developed little by little, in fact a little every day through small gestures and acts of kindness, over the course of many...

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    • Following Up

      Jerry Sauson had just received a text from his boss. The text said simply: F U? Obviously he was concerned, so he went to see her. "Ginny, are you upset with me? I don’t understand what I did to get such a vulgar text.” Ginny laughed. “It wasn’t what you did,...

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    • Inspiring Others – II

      Bibian Mentel had planned to go to law school but gave up her plans to focus on snowboarding. Three years into her snowboarding career, she participated in her first world championship. She was the Dutch Champion six times. But at the championships six years into...

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    • Saying Thank You

      It was a simple piece of paper setting on Ms. Shaw’s desk when she entered her sixth-grade class. But the words on the paper, and the character they portrayed defined a life. “Ms. Shaw, thank you for being so kind to Akeera yesterday when the other girls were making...

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    • Sustainable Giving – I

      It was the first trip that Jon and June had made to the family farm since they were married. Jon’s aunt, Alice, and family friend, Jim, were the only family members left in the rural community where Jon’s mother was raised. Jim, while not a biological member of the...

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    • Simple Gifts

      One of America’s most popular folk songs is Simple Gifts. It was sung at the inaugurations of three presidents (Reagan, Clinton, Obama). It was written by a Shaker church leader, Joseph Brackett, Jr. Brackett wrote only one verse and other verses were added by...

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    • Inspiring Others – I

      Jerry was a truck driver. He owned his own truck and carried food products from the Midwest states to cities on both coasts. As an independent driver, he could set his own delivery schedule. Throughout his travels, he would often be dismayed at the forgotten places...

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    • Making a Difference – I

      He was known as the answer man by those who turned to him for advice. Over the years, he made himself available to those seeking guidance from someone they trusted. This wasn’t his job, but he tried to help everyone who came to him. With the internet, his advice...

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