It is with a great sense of responsibility and recognition of our own good fortune that we commit to the “Giving Pledge.” We are aware, in our roles as family members, neighbors, colleagues, and friends that we all rely on one another in both apparent and less obvious ways. Giving is one of the more clear and direct means to provide support, and it is satisfying to commit our resources to organizations that assist others and help to strengthen our society.

We very much believe that the accumulation of wealth gets us nowhere. Money has the most value when it’s used for others and the greater good, for sustaining and enriching our world. In our minds, foundational areas like education and health are the most critical. We support places like Rutgers University and Johns Hopkins, institutions at the nexus of education and medical research, as well as more local, grass-roots organizations that seek to maintain and enhance the health, education, and well-being of our community.

We also support the arts, an area that we see as central to a flourishing culture, allowing individuals to thrive personally and creatively, and itself an area that perpetually gives back to the community. In many ways we see the arts as an extension of education, a place where we are inspired to create, cultivate talents, and be encouraged to excel.

Both of us have been lucky in our own lives, supported by the generosity of others when pursuing our own college educations. We have also been lucky to have been in the company of inspiring, motivated, and encouraging colleagues and friends, who have helped to put us in a position in which we now have the means to give in ways that we see as worthwhile and promising.

We are honored to be included within the group making this “Giving Pledge” and grateful not only because of its call to responsibility as members of society but also for its inspiring an attitude of generosity and hope—hope in the idea that we collectively have the resources among us to transform, buildup, and renew our society. This is a responsibility and challenge, but one we are thrilled to take on.