Congratulations!

As graduation season kicks off, more than 145 high school seniors and more than 200 College seniors are preparing for this expectant and exciting milestone. Amidst the last papers being written, gowns being fit and parties being thrown, I want you to pause and take in just how far you've come.

I've seen firsthand that your journey to this moment has not been easy - in fact, for many of you, it was never meant to be. Society didn’t expect this of you, maybe not even of me. It didn’t always invest in you, believe in your potential, or smooth the path in front of you.

You believed in something bigger, even in the face of every obstacle in your way. You held onto hope, and you stayed resilient in the face of every challenge you encountered. You showed people you didn't even know were watching what is possible when a young person possesses both the courage to persevere and the support to thrive.

I built Give Back for students like you. You are why I started this work, and you are the reason our talented team goes to work every day. I know deeply the impact of having someone believe in you at just the right moment. That belief - your belief in yourself, and ours in you - helped carry you here.

As you move on from this moment and onto the next milestone, please always remember: the world needs your voice, your story, your leadership and your contribution. As I've said, to more than 2,000 students, my greatest hope for you is that you continue to give back.

From the entire Give Back family and from me personally, you have made me so proud. You have already changed the world just by reaching this milestone. I can’t wait to see what you do next.

Bob Carr
Founder, Give Back