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Billionaire commencement speaker came bearing cash for graduates at this Mass. school
UMass Dartmouth students erupted in cheers when they heard the news Thursday.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students got a surprise gift during their graduation ceremony on Thursday: $1,000 in cash for each graduate.
In the pouring rain, Robert Hale Jr., founder and CEO of wholesale telecommunications provider Granite Telecommunications, took the stage. As seen in a video shared by the school, he told the crowd that for him and his wife Karen, “the greatest joys we’ve had in our life have been the gift of giving.”
Hale pointed to the security guards coming on stage with two duffle bags he had packed with envelopes of cash.
“Our community and our world need our help now more than ever,” said Hale.
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Hale announced that each graduate who crossed the stage would receive one $500 envelope to keep as a gift and a second $500 envelope to give to someone in need or a charity or cause close to them.
The video shows the students, sitting underneath umbrellas and wearing ponchos in the rain, erupting in cheers at the news.
During the ceremony, Hale received the UMass Dartmouth Chancellor’s Medal for his philanthropy work.
According to Forbes, Hale is worth $5.4 billion. He founded his company in 2002, less than six months after his previous company filed for bankruptcy. Hale also has a minority stake in the Boston Celtics.
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