A Fitting Tribute

Honoring extraordinary leadership

As he stepped off the Foundation’s board of directors after a decade of distinguished service, George Graboys was surprised by a farewell gift from his fellow board members. Noting that it would be difficult to imagine the board table without George at the head, and citing George’s “wonderful facilitation skills and his on-target observations that have advanced many discussions to the highest level,” Chairman-elect David Hirsch praised George for his compassion and his absolute commitment to doing the right thing. “He has not only been our chairman,” said David, “but our compass, keeping the Foundation on course and reminding us of our accountability to Rhode Island.”

To honor George’s lasting contributions to the Foundation, the board of directors announced that they had established The George Graboys Leadership Fund, an unrestricted fund that will help the Foundation to continue investing in causes and issues close to George’s heart.

The language establishing the fund is as follows:

Whereas, for the past decade he has given extraordinary service as director and chairman, and whereas he far exceeded his chairman’s responsibilities by brilliantly executing the role of acting chief executive officer for a period of seven months, we do hereby irrevocably establish at The Rhode Island Foundation an unrestricted fund in honor of outgoing chairman George Graboys, for charitable purposes in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the Foundation.

The fund shall be known as The George Graboys Leadership Fund of The Rhode Island Foundation, commemorating his leadership as a champion of the Foundation.

Annual distributions from the Fund as determined by the Foundation’s spending rule in effect at that time shall be made subject to the approval of the Foundation’s board of directors.

Signed with deepest gratitude this 11th day of December 2008

Underscoring the high esteem in which they hold George, every single member of the board generously contributed to the new fund. David stated emphatically, “George, you leave a legacy of greatness at The Rhode Island Foundation.”