Why I Give

Meet Gray Behrhorst, MSE Board member and father to Mac, Grady, and Tate, and read his giving story.

As a student at Colgate, I studied the Yanomami people of South America who believed, like many cultures, in the immortality of the soul. They thought all parts of their physical bodies and environment contained their “soul material.” So one of their daily rituals was to spit on the ground to leave their souls behind to become a part of wherever they traveled.

I thought this idea was really great, so now whenever I visit a new or unique place, I always spit on the ground in the Yanomami spirit of leaving a bit of my “soul” behind to remain a part of something or someplace special.

So for me, giving to MSE and other extraordinary places or organizations is a way to leave a part of our “souls” to something special – without the spit.

Now think about your giving story.

Do you remember saving your pennies as a child to give to something you cared deeply about? Do you remember ways in which your parents or grandparents taught you about philanthropy? Do you have stories about conversations you’ve had with your own children about the power of giving?

If so, we’d love to hear your giving story. To submit your giving story, contact Ginny Bishop by phone at (303) 674-0093 or by email at [email protected]