Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Celebrating the place for leadership and philanthropy

November 21^st, 2008

Today we celebrate the official opening of our new building. The dedication opens the doors to our community to use this place for leadership, problem solving, innovation, and addressing knotty issues facing all of us. While I've heard grumblings that "how could we do this in the midst of this recession", anyone who leads a business or organization knows that you don't just make a decision to purchase and renovate a building and then move right on in to the facility! We've been at this for years! We are grateful to Tom and Mickie Fox and to all of our supporters as we would not be here if not for them.

We are burying a time capsule in a wall in our lobby to be opened 50 years from now . . . November 21, 2058. Everyone was encouraged to write a letter, find an object representing our times, or anything that will show the leaders in the future what we were all about!

Two days ago I finally hunkered down to finish the letter I started days ago to the President of the GRCF in 2058 - an eerie experience! Here are some excerpts:

"It seems strange to be writing a letter to a person who is the President of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in 2058! As a matter of fact, you may not even be born yet as I write this letter to you! You are very fortunate to be in this position."

"I wish you the best in all that you do. I hope you are humble yet strong. I hope that you are exceptionally bright yet sensitive. I hope that you know that you are not alone - that your staff team and your board of trustees value your leadership. Don't waste that support. Build on it - appreciate it and acknowledge all your collaborative partners. Don't take the spotlight for the sake of the bright lights. Work hard but frankly play hard too!"

A wonderful day unfolds!