Words of Faith

Thank you, Again and Again

Rob.foley — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 21:42:14 +0000

After Five and The Next 100: Building Democracy

Rob.foley — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 15:09:33 +0000

We are tired and we are moved. Today is a somber day in St. Louis, marking five years since the police shooting of Michael Brown, Jr. on a quiet street in Ferguson on a Saturday morning. Actions and reflections are underway, intended to remind all of us that we are not truly free until all are free. While we look back at our history, we are even more anxious to build a healthier community that will invite all to support and sustain democracy.

Waiting is Not a Game

Rob.foley — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 14:07:33 +0000

One of the many skills our students must develop is to be good at waiting. This characteristic is required of them by a higher education system designed to serve a multitude of purposes, the least of which is to facilitate their ability to prepare well in advance and arrive on their campuses rested, fed, and ready to learn.

Heartbreak: Chronology of a Cruel Week

Rob.foley — Mon, 13 May 2019 14:05:59 +0000

Broken promises, amazing strength, and heartbreak are common among young and undocumented students in the U.S. since the Executive Order authorizing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was signed in 2012. Before that order, to be undocumented and prohibited a path to citizenship was to live with fear, feeling the emotional and physical need to disappear at any time.

Beware Your Presumptions about Power

Rob.foley — Thu, 02 May 2019 21:05:54 +0000

Power is not always signified by title, wealth, or placement in the organizational chart.

The Largest Gift

Rob.foley — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

This is a story worth telling. Were this only about money, the headline might read: Foundation Receives Largest Gift in Nearly 100-Year History. And that would be true. But also true is a tale of heart-stopping humility and commitment so deep it can afford to be silent.

Thirty Years, Today: Why I Stay

Rob.foley — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 06:09:00 +0000

Today marks 30 years I’ve been Executive Director of The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. After three decades, I can still say without hesitation that I have the best job in town. While I may no longer wear blue blazers and silk bow ties (thankfully not entirely visible in this 1989 photo), I wake up every morning before my alarm rings, ready to get to work to create the kind of educational opportunity that can change the world.

Happy Valentine's Data

Rob.foley — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:18:58 +0000

Our board and staff are planning for a strategic planning session in which we will begin setting vision and goals for our centennial year and beyond. In doing so, we administered a survey to current and recent students and asked some open-ended questions for feedback about what we do and how we do it. The valentine (depicted above) simply configures the words used most often in their responses. This, after all, is the best love note we could get.

The Best Reason for Partnerships: Rico Beuford Explains

Rob.foley — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:49:13 +0000

In nonprofit lingo, you’ll find the word “partnership” used to describe everything from an annual contribution to interdependent programs. Fancy words for nonprofit work are plentiful: collaboration, cooperation, alignment, affiliation, replication, collective impact, evidence-based, data-driven.

Points of Light Amidst Plenty of Darkness

Rob.foley — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 15:00:00 +0000

It can be hard to see the light.