Community

Michael G.

Michael, you are a passionate member of the Room to Read community. Who or what inspires you to want to give back? What causes are most important to you?

My grandparents and parents have always been huge inspirations to me. They instilled strong values related to helping others, whether through time or giving. While there are so many wonderful causes out there worthy of support, I'm attracted to organizations that are highly effective and highly efficient, creating transformative impact for the populations that they serve. My top two recommendations are Room to Read, as education probably has the highest return on investment -- both for the individuals and for their communities -- and Camp Casco, a free summer camp for childhood cancer patients and survivors that I was privileged to co-found.

When did you first hear about Room to Read and how did you get involved? What encouraged you to continue your support?

I saw a copy of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World [by Room to Read’s Founder, John Wood] on my friend's coffee table and asked if I could borrow it; that was more than 15 years ago. I was enthralled and immediately wrote to Room to Read to learn about opportunities in Boston. I attended and ultimately helped to organize several events for the Boston Volunteer Chapter. As someone who was in academia, I hugely value the impact that a good education can afford. I was fortunate to receive fantastic scholastic opportunities and feel a moral obligation to pay them forward, as I imagine anyone who is reading this piece does as well. 

What made you want to include Room to Read in your will? Why would you recommend others who are passionate about this work consider making a planned gift? 

I honestly believe that there are few better investments than Room to Read. Just look at the data: Room to Read has received Charity Navigator's prestigious 4-star rating in 16 of the past 17 years. Room to Read values transparency, data, and integrity. The organization has taken on one of the world's greatest challenges and continues to execute with aplomb. The tagline is true: World Change Starts with Educated Children ®. And thanks to Room to Read, more than 38 million children across roughly 55,000 communities have already benefited worldwide. The advancement rate among girls in the program is 97%. If you want to affect change in this world, then you needn't look further than Room to Read.

What advice do you have for those who want to take care of their loved ones through their estate planning, but also want to support causes that they care about? Do you think it’s possible to do both?

It's certainly possible to take care of one's loved ones through estate planning while also supporting causes about which one cares. That's the beauty of a will: you get to decide and define exactly how you want to allocate your assets. I also believe that your loved ones will take great pride in the knowledge that a portion of their family's assets will help ensure that the world becomes a better place for them and their children.

While I've met people who wish that they had given more to charity, I've never met a person who regretted giving away too much.