Unsurprisingly, a University of Massachusetts Dartmouth businessman commencement speech surprised each student with a$ 1, 000 gift with a catch.
After Robert Hale Jr., the founder and CEO of Granite Telecommunications, received the UMass Dartmouth Chancellor’s Medal for his “incredible generosity work”, he told the audience that the greatest satisfaction he and his wife, Karen, have had in existence has “been the surprise of giving”, the school reported.
After wrapping up with the surprise announcement that each graduate who crossed the stage would receive an envelope containing$ 500 to keep for themselves, Hale said,” Our community and our world need our help now more than ever.”
The businessman, who has a$ 5.4 billion net worth, according to Forbes, presented two large duffle bags of cash on stage.
Hale then stated that the graduates would be given a second envelope with$ 500 that was intended for” someone in need or a charity or cause close to them” and that the school would send it in another envelope.
” These trying times have heightened the need for sharing, caring, and giving”, the billionaire said to the graduates. Our nation depends on you and your generosity more than ever.
At today’s ceremony, Robert and Karen Hale, philanthropists, presented each class of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Class of 2024 with$ 1, 000 to encourage them to begin their charitable journey. ( 1/2 ) pic. twitter.com/HR4peHyUn2
— UMass Dartmouth ( @UMassD ) May 16, 2024
According to a school spokesperson, 1,200 graduates were given the kind gifts, according to a Fox Business source.  ,
” Hale told the crowd about his career, including losing$ 1 billion nearly overnight, and urged them not to let failure define them, using his own life as an example of resilience and perseverance”, UMass Dartmouth said.  ,
