Perspectives on Generosity of Spirit NEWSLETTER # 7 August 2010 Introduction The spirit of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia was gen- munity and its legacy. This newsletter seeks to get to the HURXVWRWKHFRUH7KDWVSLULWLVRIJUHDWEHQHÀWSDUWLFXODUO\ bottom of the changing face of the culture of sharing. LQWKHVHGLIÀFXOWDQGFKDOOHQJLQJWLPHV<HWLWVHHPVDV Rex, generous in its raison d’être, founders’ principles, if self-centeredness has taken hold in the culture at large and supportive community, hopes these perspectives over the last several decades, standing in contrast to the help move renewed energy toward a broader society of core values surrounding the Grateful Dead concert com- kindness and giving. Photo: Bob Minkin Moonalice. L to R: Roger McNamee, John Molo, Ann McNamee, Pete Sears, Barry Sless. Choosing Empathy Over Greed Interview with Roger McNamee A Co-Founder of Elevation Partners, Roger McNamee has been children during the Vietnam War. With his father active an investor in technology and related growth industries since in the Albany Urban League, Roger not only got to meet 1982. Roger serves as a director of the Rex Foundation, Move, Jackie Robinson at the age of 10, he also gained an early Wordnik, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum, and National understanding of the issues and challenges surrounding Geographic Ventures. Roger also plays bass and guitar for the integration. band Moonalice. Expected, even in his elementary school years, to be an ac- $WWKHDJHRI5RJHUZDVKDQGLQJRXWOHDÁHWVIRUWKH tive part of dynamic dinner conversations that embraced John F. Kennedy presidential campaign. By age 12, he WKHH[FKDQJHRIQHZLGHDVDQGDIÀUPHGWKHSROLWLFDO was a full-time volunteer for Eugene McCarthy, and at 17 process, Roger developed a strong sense of empathy was actively involved in George McGovern’s presidential along with a value system grounded in participation and campaign. His early political involvement was just part personal involvement. of what resulted from being raised in Albany, NY, in the late 1950’s to early 1970’s, the second youngest in a very Roger believes that empathy is a core element of generos- large, politically active family with a number of draft-age LW\RIVSLULWFRPSHOOLQJUHÁHFWLRQVVXFKDV Continued on Page 3 1 “Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” – Albert Camus Furthering a Tradition of Grassroots Giving Message from the Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS The legacy of the Rex Foundation is the spirit of generosity and concern that Bob Weir evolved in the culture surrounding Grateful Dead concerts. The Grateful Tim Walther Dead were always known for generosity and the performance of numerous Cameron Sears EHQHÀWV7KHLUGHFLVLRQWRVWDUWWKH5H[)RXQGDWLRQHQDEOHGWKHPWRPRUHDF- John Scher Nadia Prescher tively provide community support, rather than respond to requests. The fans Cliff Palefsky responded, too, by readily paying for their concert tickets, especially at Rex Nick Morgan EHQHÀWVKRZVZKHUHWKHSURWRFROZDVQRJXHVWSDVVHVRUFRPSWLFNHWVWRKHOS Roger McNamee John Leopold increase proceeds for Rex. Michael Klein Rosalie Howarth It is now 15 years since Jerry Garcia passed away. As the lead guitarist for the Dawn Holliday Grateful Dead and founding board member of the Rex Foundation, among Mickey Hart his many other accomplishments, Jerry Garcia demonstrated a high level of Freddy Hahne vision and leadership around creativity and acts of generosity. As one way to Carolyn Garcia Andy Gadiel pay tribute to his contributions to music, culture and community, we seek to Tim Duncan explore what it means to put forward generosity of spirit – a level of generosity Stefanie Coyote WKDWH[WHQGVEH\RQGDVSHFLÀFDFWRUPRQHWDU\FRQWULEXWLRQ Barry Caplan Matt Butler I have the privilege of experiencing many dimensions of such generosity Diane Blagman Dennis Alpert through my work at Rex. Each day I connect with people who offer their time Dennis Alpert and resources to support Rex, and then express thanks for this opportunity! The Bill Graham (1984 – d.1991) people who carry out the work at grantee organizations do so with heartfelt Jerry Garcia (1984 – d.1995) passion, clearly for reasons beyond receiving a paycheck. Hal Kant (1982 – d. 2008) ADVISORY BOARD I also read the news, watch the talking heads on TV and observe the ever- Bill Walton increasing tendency of people to react angrily to differing viewpoints. I feel a Sage Scully Jon McIntire sadness when I see polarization among people who I’m sure share common Michael Klein concerns and mean to do well by others; they react as though they have been Larry Brilliant personally attacked, rather than taking the time to consider their own part Bernie Bildman in creating the dynamic, as well as seeking to understand the other person’s John Perry Barlow Steve Bernstein situation. I believe that as a culture, we have, for quite some time, been bom- barded with and beaten down by fear-provoking situations, from the wars in EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sandy Sohcot Iraq and Afghanistan, to the economic downturn. The prevailing media and NEWSLETTER EDITED BY political messages provoke dissension and distrust rather than promote a more Sandy Sohcot and Alan Trist constructive, compassionate approach to problem-solving. I also know that not a generation has gone by, including the years that gave birth to the Grateful ASSISTED BY Chris Meharg Dead and surrounding culture, when there have not been major challenges to The Rex Foundation is address. named after Rex Jackson, a Grateful Dead roadie With all of this in mind, I felt a personal desire to bring to light some perspec- and later road manager until tives on what helps spark the spirit of generosity that is part of all of us and his untimely death in 1976 that helps us positively navigate through the complexities of life. I hope the write-ups here provide some good food for thought and kindle renewed af- REX FOUNDATION P.O. Box 29608 ÀUPDWLRQIRUZKDWZHDOOKDYHWRRIIHUDVNLQGKXPDQEHLQJV San Francisco, CA 94129 (415) 561-3134 Sandy Sohcot www.rexfoundation.org Federal ID # 68 0033257 PRINTED ON “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and Sakura Silk 71# text the world remains and is immortal.” – Albert Pine 100% Post-Consumer Waste New Leaf Paper Company CONTACT REX We encourage your tax-free donations The photographs in this newsletter include favorites from some of our beneficiaries. Federal ID # 68 0033257 The photographers are from these organizationss. Thank you all for your support. 2 Empathy (continued from page one) &DQ\RXLPDJLQHFLUFXPVWDQFHVRWKHUWKDQ\RXU decisions by the time they were 25 that were effectively own? LUUHYHUVLEOHZKHUHWROLYHZKRWRPDUU\ZKHUHWRZRUN There were safety nets to catch you if you fell, yet you $UH\RXDEOHWRVWHSRXWRI\RXUVHOIHQRXJKWRLPDJLQH had very few choices. the effect you have on others or the effect other people have on those around them, and does it matter to you? 7RGD\ZHKDYHWKHSRODURSSRVLWHWRWKLVH[SHULHQFH(Y- eryone has unlimited choices, but they have to make many While recognizing the context for his strong commitment decisions very quickly, with essentially no safety nets. to involvement and philanthropy, Roger notes that this sense of empathy is challenged in today’s society. He has 5RJHUVHHVVRFLHW\DWWKLVWLPHLQDPRPHQWRISURIRXQG observed that the 1980’s brought about a social norm to WUDQVLWLRQ²ÀJXULQJRXWKRZWRQDYLJDWHWKHVRFLDO accumulate as much as one could contract, and being at odds with without a lot of constraints, where how to relate to the role of govern- it became acceptable to not concern ment and abstract forces such as oneself with the needs of other big business. We hear people say, people. Instead, over these last 30 “I hate the government.” Yet, in the years, self-centeredness and near- face of disasters such as the Gulf of WHUPSURÀWWDNLQJKDYHEHHQYDOXHG Mexico oil spill, people seek strong over empathy and generosity, en- government response and realize abling unbridled economic activity WKHPDUNHWLVQRWOLNHO\WRÀ[VXFK DQGVRFLDOSHUPLVVLRQWREHVHOÀVK problems. Troubled by the current fear-based $VDFRXQWU\ZHDUHEHKDYLQJLQD political discourse and recognizing fashion that suggests we don’t per- that he is not likely personally to ceive a common bond, except with solve the broader threats of such such things as the Olympics. forces as global warming, greed or war, Roger and his wife Ann seek :HDVNHG´6RZKHUHGRHVJHQHURV- to make a difference to the people ity of spirit play a role in address- around them. Roger says, “We take a ing the current situation?” Roger Rex-like approach to philanthropy. We may not be able to UHÁHFWVRQKLVRZQVHQVHRIREOLJDWLRQDQGUHVXOWLQJ solve big problems, but we can help lots of people.” Roger DFWLRQV describes the philosophy behind their acts of generosity :HVWDUWHGDWVTXDUHRQH²KHOSWKRVHZKRKDYHKHOSHG DVVWULYLQJWRPDNHWKHZRUOGDEHWWHUSODFH you, such as colleges. /HDYHQRWKLQJEXWDVPLOHRQWKHIDFHRISHRSOHDURXQG .HHSDORZSURÀOH²LI\RXQHHGFUHGLWIRU\RXUFRQWULEX- you; tions, you may not be as generous as you think. 'RQRWWDNHJRRGOXFNIRUJUDQWHGLW·VJRRGNDUPDWR /RRNDWZKDWPDWWHUV²ZHVHHHGXFDWLRQDVYLWDODQG look for ways to say “thank you”; have made a point to help undocumented students go 'RWKLQJVIRUZKLFK\RXGRQ·WQHHGFUHGLW through college and become fully productive members of the community. :HDVNHG5RJHU´:KDWGR\RXWKLQNVKDSHGWKHFXOWXUH of the 1950’s to 1970’s that inspired people like your /RRNDWSHRSOHLQRXUSHHUJURXSWRVHHKRZZHFDQ father, to contribute to positive social change, and what help – very few musicians can make a living just from has changed?”