Director's LetterMerriam Webster’s Dictionary defines “relationships” as ‘the state of being mutually interested or involved’ while “service” means ‘the act, fact, or means of serving’.
Building relationships and service to others are two concepts to which B and Audre Rapoport aspire. In preparation for this report, I asked B to give me his philosophical bent on his life’s perspective on those words. As he generally does, he went to his shelf, got a book, then read me the following:
“Most of the time, in the ordinary course of our lives, we are engaged in behavior. The things we do are predictable and in character. But once in a while, we stop behaving and begin to act. From the point of view of the neutral observer or the objective scientist, the difference may be hard to see. But to those of us who undertake to act, the difference is clear. We act when we cease to be determined by the past, when habit no longer defines what we do in the present and no longer reliably predicts what we will do in the future. We act, when we initiate, when we break the chain of causation that binds the present and the future to the past; when we start a new line of causation, create a situation that is inherently unpredictable. -- Hannah Arendt
“B said, “Tom, never forget the responsibility we have as a Foundation to help and serve others. And in addition, don’t ever forget the fun and joy you can have by engaging in the acquisition and development of life long relationships. You and our Foundation will both be rewarded for that effort. Audre and I made a decision “to act” when we established the Foundation. Assume that mantel for the future and continue.
“I take B’s counsel to heart every day. What B and Audre have built through belief in establishing relationships with a servants heart for the benefit of others is truly extraordinary. With their continued leadership, coupled with a Board of Trustees who share and exhibit those same beliefs and qualities in their own lives, the Foundation’s efforts will only assure one thing….the legacy of B and Audre will continue.
Tom Stanton
Executive Director